One Great George Street

HCE Foodservice Equipment

One Great George Street, the iconic Grade II-listed home of the Institution of Civil Engineers, turned once again to HCE—20 years after we designed its original kitchen—for a full refurbishment that reflected its evolving service model and sustainability goals.

Located just steps from Parliament in central London, the site posed significant logistical and technical challenges. The brief: modernise the entire kitchen operation to support a shift from large-scale restaurant service to high-quality, rapid delivery across 21 meeting and event spaces spread throughout the building.

Working closely with the client team, HCE developed a design that removed gas cooking entirely, replacing it with a fully electric, induction-based kitchen. We provided complete delivery, from kitchen design and coordination to the supply and installation of flooring, ceilings, wall finishes, M&E, refrigeration, and ventilation systems—all while navigating complex site access and heritage restrictions.

Key achievements:

• Zero-gas kitchen: Reduced airflow and fire risk, reused canopies with upgraded fire suppression and UV light systems, and delivered major energy savings without increasing electricity bills.
• Bespoke MKN cook suite: Delivered in three sections via an outdoor lift, assembled and welded on-site to fit the building’s constrained access points.
• Cold storage upgrade: Worked with Foster engineers to adapt and reuse existing refrigeration pipework, avoiding structural disruption and minimising environmental impact.
• Sensitive installation: Used Luton vans to navigate tight delivery routes and scheduled works during off-peak hours to minimise disruption in this central London location.

Every design decision was made in coordination with the architect and interior team, with HCE preparing Revit-based plans, elevations, services layouts, fabrication drawings, and contractor interface documents. Adaptability was key—especially when ceiling heights varied and existing pipework needed to be rerouted without damaging ornate features.

The result is a refined, fully electric kitchen that supports modern food service demands while preserving the integrity of a historic building. With comprehensive handover and manufacturer-led training, the team at One Great George Street is now equipped with a future-ready facility tailored to their evolving needs.

This project is a testament to HCE’s ability to deliver complex, heritage-sensitive installations that balance modern functionality with operational excellence.