One Great George Street
Venue Introduction
The One Great George Street conference centre, home of the Institution of Civil Engineers, is based in the heart of Westminster, just off Parliament Square. Starting as a venue for the members to meet and have conferences, the venue opened to the public back in 1989. Over the years many famous faces have stepped over the threshold and being so close to the Houses of Parliament, government officials are a regular sight. Recent visitors include Tony Blair, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Michael Schumacher, James Dyson, David Tennant and Princess Michael of Kent.
There are 19 rooms of varying size and style available for everything from meetings to conferences, dinners to receptions and filming to weddings. Each room has been named after civil engineering’s most important contributors and the venue is adorned with original artwork of those key figures. Although a traditional Edwardian building, the venue has kept its facilities up to date with the addition of wi-fi throughout and modern technology is available in each room. The venue is also dedicated to providing a first class service and a talented in-house catering team stands it apart from other event venues in London.
Building and history
The building was built between 1910 and 1913 and was the result of an architectural competition won by James Miller, RSA (1860-1947). This elegant and historical building has been described as a “monumental neo-classical design” and a “modern rendering of the late Renaissance”. The exterior, foyer and staircase are made of Portland stone and many of the rooms are ornately decorated with French walnut and oak panelling, elegant carved plaster ceilings and elaborate crystal chandeliers. Between 1987 and 1991 the venue was modernised to make better use of the space with a new theatre added along with another 3 rooms to the lower ground floor. This events venue is constantly updating its facilities and over the years the Great Hall has undergone a major restoration project with new PA system installed, induction loops added to the theatres and reception, major refurbishment of ground floor toilets and ceiling restoration in the State rooms. Over summer 2007 new wheelchair lifts are to be installed at the front entrance. The cutting-edge design is economical on space, more aesthetically pleasing and less obtrusive than other lift and ramp options.
Famous events and filming
The building has witnessed many fine moments in history and the marble-walled Great Hall has held state banquets and such landmark events as the 1945 signing of the charter establishing UNESCO. Other events that have happened in the venue:
The Butler Report press conference in July 2004
G7 and Labour manifestos in the 1990’s
Filming:
Bridget Jones Edge of Reason in 2005
Ghandi
Mr Bean in 1997
Hat Trick in 2006
Starter for Ten in 2006
TV Series
Spooks (numerous episodes), Foyles War, In Deep, Between the Lines, Kavanagh QC and Silent Witness
See also (nearest places)
Houses of Parliament
London Eye
Westminster Abbey
HM Treasury
Access
Easily accessible, this London Conference venue is in a very central location by Westminster tube. Westminster tube station is on the Jubilee, Circle and District lines Victoria and Waterloo mainline stations are also only a short tube/taxi journey or about a 15 minute walk.
External links
One Great George Street Official Site
Institution of Civil Engineers
--Swasser 13:53, 27 April 2007 (UTC)