Preserving One of the World’s Most Important Architectural Collections

How Crown Fine Art successfully relocated, protected, and future-proofed over four million items for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Overview

When the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) needed to temporarily relocate one of the world’s leading architectural libraries, they partnered with Crown Fine Art to deliver a seamless, secure, and highly specialised solution.

From complex logistics to building a bespoke, climate-controlled facility in Central London, Crown provided an end-to-end service – ensuring preservation, accessibility, and continuity for both staff and members.

The Challenge

Relocating the RIBA Library presented a uniquely complex challenge:

• Over 4 million items spanning books, archives, photographs, models, and artefacts
• One of the world’s leading architectural collections with global historical significance
• A 3,600 linear metre library, plus additional expansion capacity
• A requirement to maintain Central London presence and member access
• The need for temporary housing (3–5 years) without compromising user experience

Key challenge: Preserve and relocate a globally significant cultural archive while keeping it fully operational.

Our Solution

Crown Fine Art delivered a fully integrated solution combining logistics, storage, and facility design:

Specialist Logistics & Handling

• Managed full decant over 66 days with a dedicated team
• Packed and handled sensitive materials, including heritage collections and furniture
• Flexible resourcing to manage unknown volumes and expansion requirements

Bespoke Facility Build

• Designed and built a custom climate-controlled storage facility in Stockwell
• Delivered within 8 months, on time and on budget
• Created four controlled climate zones to meet conservation standards
• Built dedicated reading room and workspace for RIBA staff

Continuity & User Experience

• Ensured member access and reading room availability
• Enabled autonomous operation for RIBA staff onsite
• Maintained collection integrity and accessibility throughout

The Facility

The result was a purpose-built environment tailored to both preservation and usability:

• 500m³ secure storage capacity
• Nearly 3,000 linear metres of climate-controlled shelving
• Fully compliant with Construction Design & Management (CDM) regulations
• Designed for future expansion beyond initial 3–5 year term

The Outcome

Crown Fine Art delivered measurable value across logistics, infrastructure, and client experience:

• End-to-end project delivered on time and on budget
• Seamless relocation of a globally significant archive
• Fully operational facility supporting staff and members from day one
• Long-term solution supporting 3–5 years of use