Ashley Building, Middle Temple

Project Overview

  • LocationLondon
  • ClientThe Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
  • ArchitectPurcell
  • M&E ConsultantIntegration
  • Main ContractorWalter Lilly
  • Electrical ContractorDarke & Taylor

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court which have the exclusive right to call students to the Bar. The Inn’s estate has sat on the banks of the Thames since 1608. Destroyed during the blitz, the Library was reimagined in the 1950s by architect Sir Edward Maufe as the Ashley Building.

This project comprised major refurbishment across the basement-mezzanine, lower-basement, and ground floor levels of the existing Ashley Building. Extensive structural alterations created a new common room area including a new feature staircase, café, and meeting hub. A project expertly delivered by the specialist teams at Walter Lilly and Darke & Taylor.

Solutions Provided

GDS was once again, privileged to be invited to collaborate on a project of such historical importance. Working directly with the award-winning team at Purcell, and in close consultation with the estate’s team at the Middle Temple, we developed a lighting solution befitting this architectural gem.

GDS provided a complete solution inclusive of lighting design, calculations, specification, and product manufacture here in the UK. The estate’s team has adopted an extremely modern and efficient approach to lighting the building. Tunable White LEDs, PIR sensors, and GDS’ revolutionary Drive Hub system have all been sensitively incorporated into the scheme to deliver world-leading efficiency and reliability to this English institution.

"GDS provided exceptional service throughout their involvement in the project, working with the client and site teams to completion. The lighting solution was highly innovative and thoughtfully designed to suit the eclectic mix of spaces within the building and has added a modern, contemporary feel which complements the architectural features of this heritage asset."

Stephen Athanasiou

Senior Architect (Purcell)