Project Overview
Description
The Anti-Apartheid Legacy: Centre of Memory and Learning is a £3.5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project transforming a long-vacant retail building at 28 Penton Street, Islington into a nationally significant museum, archive, learning space and community venue. The building served as the UK headquarters of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, where figures including Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki and Dulcie September coordinated the global campaign to end apartheid. It was bombed in March 1982. The new centre, led by the Liliesleaf Trust, restores it to active public use for the first time.
Our role
Capital project management and client-side coordination throughout development and delivery stages - Management of National Lottery Heritage Fund requirements, reporting and compliance across development and delivery stages - Programme management and coordination of design team, client team and other stakeholders - Cost, risk and change control throughout the project lifecycle - Contractor procurement and appointment - Ongoing monitoring of construction progress, cost and quality.
Scope and Outcomes
The four-storey scheme includes a new step-free accessible entrance, a permanent exhibition gallery exploring the history of the building and the South African liberation struggle, an education and research archive with library and digital workstations, flexible seminar and workshop space, affordable workspace for up to eight occupants, and a ground-floor café and retail area. The design was developed through an extensive co-design process with local communities, including young people, the South African diaspora and Islington residents. Construction is complete and centre due to open to the public in late 2026.
