Ministry of Defence Main Building

File:Whitehall OS OpenData map.png showing the MOD Main Building in relation to other government buildings and the River Thames|alt=Map of Whitehall showing the MOD Main Building in relation to other government buildings and the River Thames.]]

Comprising a site of {{convert|3|ha|acre}}, the building is located on Whitehall within the City of Westminster, central London. Whitehall is lined with numerous government departments and offices and is close to the Houses of Parliament. Whitehall is located to the west. Between Whitehall and Main Building is Banqueting House which is the only remaining component of the Palace of Whitehall to survive intact. To the north is Horse Guards Avenue. The street is home to Whitehall Court and also the Old War Office building, former government offices which have been converted into mixed use development including a hotel, restaurants and apartments. The building is separated from Victoria Embankment and the River Thames to the east by public gardens known as Whitehall Gardens. Richmond Terrace is to the south and is now used as a private car park, although a public pedestrian route is maintained. Adjacent to Richmond Terrace is the Curtis Green Building, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service since November 2016 and otherwise known as New Scotland Yard. The Department of Health occupies the neighbouring building, Richmond House.

The building is located within the Whitehall Conservation Area, and was identified by Westminster City Council as a landmark building within their 2003 audit of the conservation area.{{Cite web|url=http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/Whitehall%20CAA%20SPG.pdf|title=Whitehall Conservation Area Audit|date=19 December 2003|website=Westminster City Council|page=27|access-date=6 September 2017}}

Queen Mary's Steps, once part of the Palace of Whitehall, are near the north east corner of the building. They indicate the position of the river before the Thames Embankment was built.{{Cite web |title=Queen Mary's Steps and Fragment of Whitehall Palace, Non Civil Parish - 1066636 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1066636 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Historic England |language=en}}

The building is located on the site of the Palace of Whitehall, which was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698 when most of its structures were destroyed by a fire. Despite some rebuilding, financial constraints prevented large scale reconstruction. In the second half of the 18th century, much of the site was leased for the construction of town houses. By the early 19th century some of the Georgian town houses were occupied as government offices.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DefenceEstateandEnvironment/ModLondonOffices.htm|title=MOD London Offices|website=Ministry of Defence|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121018114803/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DefenceEstateandEnvironment/ModLondonOffices.htm|archive-date=18 October 2012|access-date=11 September 2017}}

In 1909, a decision was taken to construct a new significant government building on the Whitehall Gardens site, primarily to be used by the Board of Trade. Architect E. Vincent Harris won a national competition in 1915 to design the building. The selected site was proposed to extend over Whitehall Gardens and ground adjacent to Victoria Embankment. Opposition to this idea however led to the southern building-line extending no further than that of the neighbouring Whitehall Court and National Liberal Club buildings to the north. This resulted in a reduction of proposed floor space of approximately {{convert|10,000|sqft|m2}}. Due to the outbreak of the First World War the start of work was delayed.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|pp=24–25}}

The Office of Works issued a requirement in 1933 for a significantly larger building and Harris was again selected as architect. The building was to comprise a single block in the Neoclassical design, faced in Portland stone, some {{convert|128|ft|m}} high and {{convert|570|ft|m}} long, with a depth of {{convert|205|ft|m}}, widening to {{convert|300|ft|m}} feet. It was to be formed as four internal blocks of ten storeys surrounding three internal courtyards with the two main elevations facing Whitehall and the Victoria Embankment.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|pp=24–25}}

Work was again delayed due to the interwar economic depression. However, activity started on site in 1938 when town houses in Whitehall Gardens were demolished. Five rooms from Pembroke House, Cromwell House and Cadogan House were dismantled and incorporated into the building as conference rooms. The rooms are now known as the "Historic Rooms" and are located on the third and fourth floors (see Historic Rooms section).{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=|pp=25–26}}

File:King Henry the VIII's Wine Cellar Underneath the MoD Main Building in London MOD 45152145.jpg's wine cellar beneath Main Building|left]]

Due to the wishes of Queen Mary and after providing assurances to Parliament, arrangements were made for the preservation of a 16th-century Tudor brick-vaulted wine cellar which had originally been located in Cadogan House, the York Place home of Cardinal Wolsey. The {{convert|70|ft|m}} long and {{convert|30|ft|m}} wide cellar consists of 10 bays with 4 octagonal piers and had been incorporated into Whitehall Palace by Henry VIII. The cellar was similar in design and construction to the wine cellar at Hampton Court Palace, featuring brick with stone dressings. Prior to the redevelopment of the site it had been used as a luncheon room by the Ministry of Transport. The existing position of the cellar was not compatible with the plans for the new building so it was decided to move it so it could be incorporated into the basement.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=|pp=25–27}}

Construction progress on the building was short-lived as work largely stopped in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=|pp=26–27}} Work recommenced at the end of hostilities and in 1949 the wine cellar was encased by the contractor, Trollope & Colls, in protective layers of concrete, steel and brick and placed on mahogany cushions, carriage rails and steel rollers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ediblegeography.com/the-last-places/|title=The Last Places|date=24 January 2013|access-date=27 July 2019}} It was then moved {{convert|43|ft|6|in|m}} to one side onto a specially designed steel frame so that a {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=on}} hole could be created on its original site. The 1,000 ton structure was lowered on screwjacks, and then moved {{convert|33|ft|10|in|m}} back to its final position.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=|pp=25–27}}

File:Ministry of Denfence and gardens.jpg

In 1951, the northern end of the building was ready for occupation by the Board of Trade. The Air Ministry took occupation of the southern part of the building when it was completed in 1959.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=27}}

The Whitehall Gardens Building, as it was known when it opened, was Harris' last major work and the last significant neoclassical style government building. The September 1951 edition of Building magazine praised the new building; however, it became known as the 'Whitehall Monster' and was described by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as a 'monument of tiredness'.{{Cite book|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture|last1=Curl|first1=James Stevens|last2=Wilson|first2=Susan|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2015|isbn=9780191053856|location=Oxford}}{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=27}}

In 1964, the former incarnation of the Ministry of Defence, the Admiralty, the War Office and the Air Ministry, were combined to form the modern Ministry of Defence. This generated a requirement for a single large building to accommodate staff for the new ministry and the Whitehall Gardens Building was identified as the preferred option, with the Board of Trade moving to the Victoria area of London.{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=27}}

On 14 January 1970, the building was grade I listed by English Heritage as a building of exceptional interest.{{NHLE|num=1278223|desc=Ministry of Defence, Containing Sixteenth Century Undercroft and Historic Rooms Numbers 13, 24, 25, 27 and 79, City of Westminster |date=25 September 2017|accessdate=25 September 2017}}

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In the early 1990s, the MOD recognised that the condition of Main Building was no longer fit for modern business requirements. Maintenance had become expensive and inefficient and the building no longer met modern safety standards. At the same time, the MOD was seeking to reduce the number of staff it had within London so that it could make savings by consolidating its built estate. The decision was therefore made to redevelop Main Building and a 30-year long private finance initiative (PFI) contract for the redevelopment and ongoing maintenance & facilities management of the building was awarded in May 2000. The contract also included the refurbishment, maintenance and running of three central London MOD offices (Northumberland House, Metropole Building and St Giles' Court) to temporarily accommodate staff decanted from Main Building during the redevelopment. The capital expenditure involved was £531 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.innisfree.co.uk/portfolio/defence-accommodation/|publisher=Innisfree|title=Defence Accommodation|access-date=7 May 2018}}

The contract winner, Modus, was a consortium consisting of Innisfree PFI Funds (40.1% shareholding), Laing Investments (40.1%) and Amey Ventures (19.9%). American firm HOK was selected as architecture and interior design consultant, Alan Baxter as structural engineers and WSP as mechanical & electrical engineers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hok.com/design/region/europe/ministry-of-defence-main-building/|title=Ministry of Defence Main Building|website=HOK|language=en|access-date=22 September 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.arenafour.com/page49.html|title=MOD Headquarters|website=Arena Four Architects|language=en|access-date=22 September 2017}} Kværner Construction were the main construction contractor; however, in August 2000 Kværner was bought over by Swedish multinational Skanska.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skanska.co.uk/about-skanska/media/press-releases/46944/Kvaerner-signs-MoD-Whitehall-refurbishment-deal|title=Kvaerner signs MoD Whitehall refurbishment deal|date=5 May 2000|website=Skanska|language=en-GB|access-date=22 September 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4463572/Skanska-buys-Kvaerner-arm-for-180m.html|title=Skanska buys Kvaerner arm for £180m|last=Litterick|first=David|date=29 August 2000|work=The Telegraph|access-date=22 September 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}

The decant of staff to other buildings was completed in August 2001. In September of that year a ceremony took place to mark the commencement of works when Skanska's CEO Keith Clarke and Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Michael Boyce assisted Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon to demolish a wall of his old office.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skanska.co.uk/about-skanska/media/press-releases/50955/MOD-Ministers-office-demolished-as-construction-begins-at-Whitehall-|title=MOD Minister's office demolished as construction begins at Whitehall|date=7 September 2001|website=Skanska|language=en-GB|access-date=22 September 2017}}File:Tri-Service and MOD Civilian Personal Imagery. MOD 45162295.jpg area at Main Building]]The redevelopment saw the existing cellular room layout changed into an open-plan office layout to improve collaboration between staff and the working environment. All mechanical and electrical services were upgraded along with IT networks. New communal spaces were created including a library, restaurant, coffee shop, business & press suite and nursery. The internal courtyards were enclosed to create three new atria within the building.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skanska.co.uk/expertise/projects/57253/MOD-Whitehall|title=MOD Whitehall|website=Skanska|language=en-GB|access-date=22 September 2017}} Security and anti-terrorism measures were integrated into the building, with the MOD changing such requirements after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Original historic features of the building were protected and restored during the redevelopment, such as the replacement of oak doors and terrazzo marble floor of the Pillared Hall. All 2,494 metal windows in the building were refurbished and repaired.{{Cite web|url=http://www.steelwindows.co.uk/mobi/mod-main-building.aspx|title=Past projects|website=Steel Windows Service|access-date=19 November 2017}}

The capacity of the building was increased from 2,800 to 3,300 staff. This allowed the MOD to dispose of five buildings in central London, these being Northumberland House, the Metropole Building, Great Scotland Yard, St. Giles Court and St Christopher House.

The building was handed back to the MOD in July 2004 and re-occupation by 3,150 staff was completed in September 2004, two months ahead of schedule.

The MOD were accused of excessive spending on the redevelopment project. Specific allegations included the cost of Herman Miller Aeron office chairs which had a retail price of £1,050 each, lavish spending on the refurbishment of historic features and the provision of staff facilities including the coffee shop, restaurant and quiet rooms. In response, the MOD said that chairs were purchased at a large discount (approximately a third of the normal price); many of the aspects of the refurbishment relating to historic features were required by English Heritage, reflecting the building's grade I listed status; and that staff facilities were generally not subsidised, were required to ensure an acceptable level of staff welfare and to provide a suitable working environment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1466789/MoD-chairs-1000-each-as-troops-face-axe.html|title=MoD chairs £1,000 each as troops face axe|last=Smith|first=Michael|date=11 July 2004|work=The Telegraph|access-date=27 September 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}

File:MOD Sign MOD 45154855.jpgIn April 2002, whilst redevelopment was still under way, the National Audit Office (NAO) considered the extent to which the PFI contract was likely to deliver value for money and the effectiveness of MOD's management of the project. The NAO report was generally favourable and found that the contract would provide what the MOD wished to procure, that the benefits of the contract would be similar in cost to that estimated for conventional procurement (other factors had tipped the balance in favour of PFI) and that the management of the project had been good.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2002/04/0102748.pdf|title=Ministry of Defence: Redevelopment of MOD Main Building: Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General HC 748 Session 2001–2002: 18 April 2002|date=18 April 2002|website=National Audit Office|page=2|access-date=22 September 2017}}

A subsequent report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee in January 2003 was less favourable. The committee was critical of the MOD's choice of PFI over other forms of procurement and considered that there was no guarantee that the contract, valued at £2.4 billion over its lifetime, will deliver value for money. The report also criticised the MOD for delays in concluding the final contract which resulted in increased costs and for poor forward planning, which resulted a separate deal being required to accommodate 500 additional staff in London.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2841172/MoD-blamed-for-spurious-PFI-deal.html|title=MoD blamed for 'spurious' PFI deal|last=Osborne|first=Alistair|date=30 January 2003|work=The Telegraph|access-date=22 September 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmpubacc/298/298.pdf|title=Private Finance Initiative: Redevelopment of Main Building|last=Committee of Public Accounts|author-link=Public Accounts Committee (United Kingdom)|date=15 January 2003|website=Parliament.UK|publisher=The Stationery Office}}

File:Earth and Water Statues on MoD Main Building in London MOD 45152995.jpg

The northern tetrastyle portico entrance to the building, on Horse Guards Avenue, is flanked by two large statues, Earth and Water, by the sculptor Sir Charles Wheeler. The figures weigh 40 tonnes each and cost £12,600. Similar figures representing "air" and "fire" were intended to be installed at the south end of the building; however, these were never constructed. During the 1950s, building staff nicknamed the statues "Mr and Mrs Parkinson", after Cyril Northcote Parkinson, the Board of Trade civil servant who devised Parkinson's Law which states "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion". More recently MOD staff refer to the statues as the "Two Fat Ladies".{{Sfn|Ministry of Defence|2001|p=27}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/aboutus/mod_at_40/air_water.htm|title=Air and Water|website=Ministry of Defence|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20041214033631/http://www.mod.uk/aboutus/mod_at_40/air_water.htm|archive-date=14 December 2004|access-date=27 September 2017}}

The badge of the RAF is carved into stone columns either side of the southern entrance to the building, reflecting its initial use by the Air Ministry. The badge, featuring an Eagle superimposed on a circlet which is surmounted by a crown, was sculpted by David McFall.{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidmcfall.co.uk/page106.html|title=1958/3 Air Ministry|website=www.davidmcfall.co.uk|language=en|access-date=22 September 2017}}

Several military statues exist in the grounds of the building or in close proximity.

• A statue of Major General Gordon of Khartoum dating from 1887–1888, sits at the Horse Guards Avenue end of Whitehall Gardens. The grade II listed statue by Sir Hamo Thornycroft is made from bronze and sits on a Portland stone base.{{NHLE|num=1066175|desc=STATUE OF GENERAL GORDON, City of Westminster |date=22 September 2017|accessdate=22 September 2017}}
• Marshal of the RAF Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard (1873–1956) is commemorated by a 1961 bronze statue situated in Whitehall Gardens.{{NHLE|num=1237902|desc=Statue of Lord Trenchard, City of Westminster |date=22 September 2017|accessdate=22 September 2017}}
• The Royal Air Force Memorial dating from 1923 is located at the Whitehall Steps on Victoria Embankment. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and sculpted by Sir William Reid Dick, the memorial is constructed from Portland stone and features a gilt bronze eagle.{{NHLE|num=1066171|desc=Royal Air Force Memorial Whitehall Stairs, City of Westminster |date=22 September 2017|accessdate=22 September 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/11560|title=RAF Memorial|website=Imperial War Museums|language=en|access-date=22 September 2017}}
• Whitehall Gardens features the Fleet Air Arm Memorial designed by James Butler. It was unveiled on 1 June 2000 by Charles, Prince of Wales.

Five rooms from buildings which were previously on the site were dismantled and incorporated into the building as conference rooms when the building was originally built. They are now known as the "Historic Rooms".

• Historic Room No.13 dates from around 1757 and was a reception room from Pembroke House. It features a decorative plaster ceiling with modillion cornicing. There is an Ionic columned and pilastered framed alcove and female mask keystone within the arch beneath entablature and flanking bays. There are 6-panel doors placed on circular panels.
• Historic Room No. 24 dates from 1757 and was also part of Pembroke House. It is similar to room no.13, but has an elaborated alcove opposite a bay window in three part arrangement with decorative doors on each side in a frame of fluted Ionic columns sitting on pedestals. There is a decorative plasterwork ceiling with spider's web design and modillion cornicing and a carved arabesque ornamented window shutter panels.
• Historic Room No. 25 is the former dining room from Pembroke House. It dates from 1773 and was designed by Sir William Chambers and features a decorated plasterwork ceiling and an elaborate chimneypiece designed by William Kent, which is believed to originate from Cadogan House.
• Historic Room No. 27 is the former saloon of Pembroke House and dates from 1760. It was also designed by Sir William Chambers and features an elaborate Palladian style compartmented plasterwork ceiling and Corinthian columned and pedimented doorway with carved detailing.
• Historic Room No. 79 was formerly part of Cromwell House and dates from around 1722. It is a completely panelled room with decorated modillion cornicing, the north wall featuring elaborated carved architrave central panel, the east wall has a formerly open three part pilastered arcade and an ornate carved pine chimneypiece. There are consoles supporting the mantle, carved with eagle heads and a pedimented overmantel.

Beneath Main Building is a three-storey bunker complex housing the Defence Crisis Management Centre (DCMC), otherwise known as "Pindar" after the ancient Greek poet. The DCMC provides the government with a protected crisis management facility. Government ministers, senior military and civilian personnel, service and civilian operational and support staff are allocated space within the complex. The DCMC cost £126.3 million to construct and fit-out and became operational on 7 December 1992.{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1994/apr/29/pindar-bunker|title=PINDAR Bunker (HC Deb 29 April 1994 vol 242 cc392-4W)|date=29 April 1994|website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|language=en-GB|access-date=25 September 2017}}

File:MOD Main Building MOD 45151977.jpg

On 1 June 2007, the building was designated as a protected site for the purposes of Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. The effect of the act was to make it a specific criminal offence for a person to trespass into the building. The restriction also includes the wall and vehicle ramps on the west side of the building adjoining Whitehall Gardens and Raleigh Green; however, it does not include the steps, ramps and porticos that give access to the inside of the building.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trespass-on-protected-sites-sections-128-131-of-the-serious-organised-crime-and-police-act-2005|title=Home Office Circular 018 / 2007 (Trespass on protected sites – sections 128–131 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005)|date=22 May 2007|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Home Office|language=en|access-date=18 July 2017}}

In August 2016, The Times newspaper reported that the specialist armed unit of the Ministry of Defence Police which guards Main Building could cease to carry out such duties. The MOD would only confirm that it was reviewing security arrangements at Main Building.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/mod-guard-could-be-stood-down-despite-terror-threat-slkdpvk0l|title=MoD guard could be stood down despite terror threat|last=Haynes|first=Deborah|date=19 August 2016|work=The Times|access-date=22 September 2017|issn=0140-0460}}

Protestors from Palestine Action and Youth Demand sprayed red paint on the walls of the building on 10 April 2024. Several people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.{{Cite news |last=Geiger |first=Chas |date=2024-04-10 |title=Pro-Palestinian protesters spray red paint on Ministry of Defence |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68781130 |access-date=2024-06-08 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The MOD estimated that it would cost at least £60,000 to remove the paint.{{Cite web |date=15 May 2024 |title=Ministry of Defence: Graffiti |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2024-05-09.25487.h&p=24866 |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=TheyWorkForYou |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49055/old_war_office_build.pdf|title=The Old War Office Building – A History|last=Ministry of Defence|first=Director General Corporate Communications|year=2001|location=London}}

{{Commons category|Ministry of Defence Main Building}}

• [https://www.Gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence Ministry of Defence] — official website at GOV.UK
• [http://www.EdibleGeography.com/the-last-places/ Henry VIII's wine cellar at Edible Geography]
• [https://web.Archive.org/web/20180120182223/http://www.GAC.Culture.Gov.uk/artist.aspx?id=9231 Drawings of initial and final proposed building design] — at the Government Art Collection
• [https://www.Architecture.com/image-library/ribapix/image-information/poster/design-for-new-government-offices-now-the-ministry-of-defence-main-building-whitehall-london/posterid/RIBA46942.html Print of design for new government offices (now the Ministry of Defence Main Building)] — at Royal Institute of British Architects RIBApix

{{United Kingdom Ministry of Defence}}

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Category:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

Category:Military headquarters in the United Kingdom

Category:Grade I listed buildings in the City of Westminster

Category:Buildings and structures on the River Thames

Category:Grade I listed government buildings

Category:History of the City of Westminster

Category:National government buildings in London

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1959

Category:Government buildings completed in 1959

Category:Military of the United Kingdom

Category:Neoclassical architecture in London

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster

Category:Military history of the United Kingdom