Ministry of Defence Main Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ministry of Defence Main Building |
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| Former names | Whitehall Gardens Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Government office |
| Address | Whitehall City of Westminster SW1A 2HB |
| Town or city | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′14″N 0°07′30″W / 51.5040°N 0.1249°W |
| Current tenants | Ministry of Defence (MOD) |
| Completed | 1959 |
| Renovated | 2000–2004 |
| Renovation cost | £746 million |
| Owner | HM Government |
| Height | |
| Architectural | Neoclassical |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Portland stone and copper roof |
| Floor count | 13 (10 above ground and 3 below) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | E. Vincent Harris |
| Developer | HM Government |
| Other designers | Sir Charles Wheeler (Sculptor) David McFall (Sculptor) |
| Main contractor | Trollope & Colls |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | HOK |
| Renovating firm | Ministry of Defence and Modus Services |
| Structural engineer | Alan Baxter |
| Services engineer | WSP |
| Main contractor | Skanska |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name | Ministry of Defence, containing Sixteenth Century undercroft and historic rooms numbers 13, 24, 25, 27 and 79 |
| Designated | 14 January 1970 |
| Reference no. | 1278223 |
The Ministry of Defence Main Building, often called the MOD Main Building, is a very important government office in London. It is located on Whitehall, a famous street with many government buildings. This building is so special that it is a Grade I listed building, meaning it's protected for its historical and architectural importance.
The building was designed by E. Vincent Harris in 1915. It was built between 1939 and 1959. It stands on land where the old Palace of Whitehall used to be. The building first housed the Air Ministry and the Board of Trade. In 1964, it became the main home for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MOD is the part of the UK government responsible for the country's armed forces.
By the 1990s, the building was getting old and expensive to keep up. So, between 2000 and 2004, it went through a big makeover. This was done using a special type of contract called a Private Finance Initiative, where a private company helped pay for and manage the renovation.
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Where is the MOD Main Building Located?
The MOD Main Building is in central London, in an area called the City of Westminster. It covers about 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of land. The building is on Whitehall, a street famous for its many government offices. It is also very close to the Palace of Westminster, where the UK Parliament meets.
Right next to the MOD building is Banqueting House. This is the only part of the old Palace of Whitehall that is still standing. To the north of the building is Horse Guards Avenue. This street has other important buildings, including the Old War Office building.
The MOD Main Building is separated from the River Thames by public gardens called Whitehall Gardens. To the south is Richmond Terrace, which is now a private car park. Near Richmond Terrace is the Curtis Green Building, which is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, also known as Scotland Yard. The Department of Health is in the building next door.
The area around the building is a "Conservation Area". This means it's a special place where buildings and history are protected. Queen Mary's Steps, which were once part of the old Palace of Whitehall, are near the building's north-east corner. They show where the river used to be before the Thames Embankment was built.
How the MOD Main Building Was Built
The Land Before the Building
The MOD Main Building stands on the site of the Palace of Whitehall. This palace was the main home for English kings and queens in London from 1530. But in 1698, a big fire destroyed most of it. Even though some parts were rebuilt, there wasn't enough money for a full reconstruction.
Later, in the 1700s, much of the land was rented out to build fancy town houses. By the early 1800s, some of these houses were being used as government offices.
Designing and Constructing the Building
In 1909, the government decided to build a large new office on the Whitehall Gardens site. It was mainly for the Board of Trade. Architect E. Vincent Harris won a national competition in 1915 to design it.
Work was delayed because of the First World War. In 1933, the government needed an even bigger building. Harris was chosen again as the architect. The new building was designed in a Neoclassical style. It would be about 39 meters (128 feet) high and 174 meters (570 feet) long. It would have four inner blocks, ten storeys high, around three courtyards. The outside would be made of Portland stone.
Work started in 1938 when the old town houses were pulled down. Five special rooms from these old houses were carefully taken apart. They were then rebuilt inside the new building to be used as meeting rooms. These are now known as the "Historic Rooms" (you can read more about them below!).
Something very interesting happened during construction! Queen Mary wanted to save a 16th-century wine cellar. This cellar belonged to Henry VIII and was part of the old Palace of Whitehall. It was about 21 meters (70 feet) long and 9 meters (30 feet) wide.
The cellar was in the way of the new building's plans. So, it was decided to move it! In 1949, the cellar, which weighed 1,000 tons, was covered in concrete, steel, and brick for protection. It was then moved using special rollers and screwjacks. It was shifted about 13 meters (43 feet) to the side. Then, a big hole was dug where it used to be. Finally, it was moved back about 10 meters (33 feet) to its new spot in the basement.
Construction stopped again in 1939 because of the Second World War. It started again after the war ended.
Opening and Early Use
In 1951, the northern part of the building was finished. The Board of Trade moved in. The Air Ministry moved into the southern part when it was completed in 1959.
When it first opened, the building was called the Whitehall Gardens Building. It was the last big work by architect Harris. Some people liked it, but others called it the 'Whitehall Monster'. One historian even said it looked like a "monument of tiredness."
In 1964, several government departments, including the British Admiralty, the War Office, and the Air Ministry, joined together. They formed the modern Ministry of Defence. This new, bigger ministry needed one large building. The Whitehall Gardens Building was chosen as the best place. The Board of Trade moved to a different area of London.
On January 14, 1970, the building was given its Grade I listed status. This means it is considered a building of exceptional historical and architectural importance.
Modern Renovation of the Building
By the early 1990s, the MOD Main Building was not suitable for modern work anymore. It was expensive to maintain and didn't meet current safety rules. The MOD also wanted to have fewer staff in London to save money. So, they decided to renovate the Main Building.
A 30-year contract was signed in May 2000. This contract was a private finance initiative (PFI). This meant a private group would pay for the renovation and then maintain the building for 30 years. The contract also included fixing up other MOD offices in London. These offices would temporarily house staff while the Main Building was being renovated.
The main construction company was Kværner Construction. Later, a Swedish company called Skanska bought Kværner.
What Changed During Construction?
MOD staff moved out of the building by August 2001. Work officially started in September 2001. The renovation changed the building from many small offices into an open-plan layout. This helps staff work together better. All the old electrical systems and computer networks were updated.
New shared spaces were created, like a library, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a nursery. The three inner courtyards were covered with roofs to create new, bright open spaces called atriums.
Security measures were also improved, especially after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Old parts of the building, like the oak doors and marble floors, were carefully restored. All 2,494 metal windows were fixed.
The building can now hold 3,300 staff, up from 2,800. This allowed the MOD to sell five other buildings in central London. The renovated building was given back to the MOD in July 2004. Staff moved back in by September 2004, which was two months earlier than planned!
Special Features of the Building
Building Sculptures
At the northern entrance of the building, on Horse Guards Avenue, there are two large statues. They are called Earth and Water. The sculptor was Sir Charles Wheeler. Each statue weighs 40 tons! People who worked in the building used to call them "Mr and Mrs Parkinson." More recently, MOD staff sometimes call them the "Two Fat Ladies."
At the southern entrance, you can see the badge of the RAF carved into stone columns. This shows that the building was first used by the Air Ministry. The badge shows an eagle with a crown. It was sculpted by David McFall.
Statues Nearby
There are several statues of important military figures around the building.
- A statue of Major General Gordon of Khartoum (from 1887–1888) is in Whitehall Gardens.
- A bronze statue of Marshal of the RAF Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard (from 1961) is also in Whitehall Gardens.
- The Royal Air Force Memorial (from 1923) is on Victoria Embankment. It has a golden eagle.
- The Fleet Air Arm Memorial was unveiled in Whitehall Gardens in 2000.
Historic Rooms Inside
Five special rooms from the old houses that used to be on the site were saved. They were carefully taken apart and rebuilt inside the new MOD Main Building. These are now known as the "Historic Rooms" and are used as meeting rooms.
- Historic Room No. 13: This room is from around 1757 and was a reception room from Pembroke House. It has a fancy plaster ceiling and decorative columns.
- Historic Room No. 24: Also from Pembroke House (1757), this room is similar to No. 13 but has an even more detailed alcove (a recessed part of a room).
- Historic Room No. 25: This was the dining room from Pembroke House, designed in 1773 by Sir William Chambers. It has a beautiful plaster ceiling and a grand fireplace.
- Historic Room No. 27: This was the main hall (saloon) of Pembroke House, from 1760, also designed by Sir William Chambers. It features a detailed ceiling and a grand doorway with columns.
- Historic Room No. 79: This room was part of Cromwell House, dating from around 1722. It is completely covered in wooden panels and has a very ornate carved fireplace.
Special Facilities and Security
The Defence Crisis Management Centre
Beneath the Main Building, there is a three-storey underground bunker. This is called the Defence Crisis Management Centre (DCMC), or "Pindar." It's named after an ancient Greek poet. The DCMC is a secure place where government leaders, military officials, and staff can manage national crises. It cost a lot of money to build and started working in 1992.
Protecting the Building
The MOD Main Building is a very important and sensitive site. On June 1, 2007, it was made a "protected site." This means it is a specific crime for someone to trespass (enter without permission) into the building. This rule also applies to the walls and vehicle ramps on the west side of the building.
The security of the building is always being reviewed. In April 2024, some protestors sprayed red paint on the building's walls. Several people were arrested. It cost a lot of money to clean the paint off.
