The new project focuses on improving accessibility, acoustic performance and technical capability, ensuring the church of St Luke’s – first restored in 2003 – can continue to support the orchestra’s evolving ambitions.

Improvements include upgrades to the rehearsal, community and education spaces, expanded technical capabilities for the Jerwood Hall – designed for large-scale performances – and a new external lighting scheme to enhance the building’s visibility.

St Luke’s – a London Symphony Orchestra venue and ‘music hub’ – is a Grade I-listed church in Islington designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and John James and built in 1733.

Levitt Bernstein first restored it in 2003 for the St Luke Centre Management Company when it was on English Heritage’s list of most important buildings at risk and in a poor state of disrepair following its closure in 1959.

The £9.7 million project focused on external restoration by adding a new roof and artists’ entrance on the site of the old vestry. A new interior was also constructed within the volume of the church to create rehearsal, education and performance space for the orchestra.

A formerly unsafe crypt was also rebuilt to house a café, while extensions were excavated beneath the churchyard to make practice rooms, offices, plant and visitor facilities.

Architect’s view

One of the standout achievements in the refurbishment of LSO St Luke’s is the holistic acoustic and technical upgrade to Jerwood Hall, which has been designed to support both large‑scale orchestral rehearsals and an increasingly diverse programme of performances, recordings, and digital content creation. Working within the constraints of the Grade I listing designation, with the heritage statement recognising the significance of Levitt Bernstein’s 2003 conversion, we delivered significant improvements to the Hall’s acoustic and technical performance.

A new wall, window, and ceiling treatments were integrated seamlessly with the existing fabric, improving clarity, warmth and ensemble conditions for performers while reducing distracting reflections. The installation of discreet, high‑capacity technical infrastructure – including upgraded camera installations, cable infrastructure and digital connectivity – now enables the space to function as a state‑of‑the‑art studio environment for filming, streaming, and recording, supporting the LSO’s expanding digital outreach.

This dual optimisation for live and digital use means that the hall can shift effortlessly between rehearsal, performance, recording, and broadcast modes, allowing the LSO to fulfil its business plan whilst meeting growing demand for flexible, technologically enabled cultural spaces. As conservation architect, we designed all interventions to ensure reversibility and minimal visual impact, preserving the character of the former church while equipping it for a new chapter of music‑making and education.

The result is a transformed Jerwood Hall that feels both beautifully restored and technically future‑proof, a space where world‑class acoustics, digital capability and architectural heritage – both new and old – work in harmony.

Mark Lewis, arts studio director, Levitt Bernstein

 

Client’s view

LSO St Luke’s is the cherished home of LSO Discovery, our education and community programme, and a base for a dynamic programme of orchestral performance, rehearsal and recording.

From its opening in 2003, the LSO’s work in the building flourished and expanded until the pandemic lock downs caused us to rethink how we can maximise its use, now and into the future. We knew that we wanted to make the building more accessible and flexible for all users, and that our digital programme in the building would continue to grow year on year. Sustainability was also a priority, both in terms of caring for the historic fabric of building but also in ensuring that the infrastructure reflects our environmental principles.

LSO St Luke’s is a Grade I-listed building located in one of Islington’s protected green spaces. The footprint of the building therefore couldn’t grow, but our ambition was significant. The team at Levitt Bernstein led a sensitive and creative design process, looking closely at each space in turn to unlock new potential. As caretakers of this amazing building, the project was about celebrating the success of the original conversion and taking the next bold step in ensuring that LSO St Luke’s continues to be at the heart of the LSO and our community for many years to come.

Kathryn McDowell, managing director, The London Symphony Orchestra

 

Project data

Location Islington, London
Start on site January 2025
Completion September 2025
Gross internal floor area 2,168m2
Form of contract JCT / Single stage traditional
Construction cost £8 million
Architect Levitt Bernstein
Client London Symphony Orchestra
Structural engineer Price & Myers
MEP engineer Max Fordham
QS Bristow
Project manager Avison Young
Contract administrator Avison Young
Landscape architect Levitt Bernstein
Acoustic consultant Threshold Acoustics
Fire engineer The Fire Surgery
Access contractor HADA
Principal designer Levitt Bernstein
CDM co-ordinator Levitt Bernstein
Approved building inspector SWECO
Main contractor GPF Lewis
CAD software used Revit

Environmental performance data

On-site energy generation Nil
Annual mains water consumption Not calculated (same as existing)
Airtightness at 50Pa Not calculated (same as existing)
Heating and hot water load Not calculated (same as existing)
Operational energy Reduced by 15% due to new lighting systems
Total energy load Not calculated
Overall area-weighted U-value Not calculated
Predicted design life 30 years (MEP plant)
Embodied carbon Not calculated
Whole-life carbon Not calculated
Annual CO2 emissions Not calculated