Planning

Barbican Centre Renewal - Furniture Designer

THE MAYOR AND COMMONALTY AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LONDON

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 May 2026 at 10:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process is being led by The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London for the Barbican Centre Renewal – Furniture Designer project. This initiative is currently in the planning stage, with the primary focus on furniture design services. The tender addresses the need for innovative furniture strategies and bespoke designs through several developmental stages within the Barbican Centre. The procurement is designated under the industry category 'Furniture design services' and is planned for execution between September 2026 and October 2029. A scheduled supplier engagement, where responses must be submitted by 8th June 2026, is part of the upcoming milestones for this procurement. The process is a tender initiation method, with the contract value estimated gross at £240,000.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the furniture design sector, particularly those with capabilities to deliver bespoke and sustainable design solutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focusing on innovative and sustainable furniture designs tailored to prestigious and historical venues will find this project a valuable opportunity to expand their portfolios. The tender invites businesses that can demonstrate strength in inclusive design and lifecycle carbon minimisation, along with the requisite ability to prototype and manage installations across multiple stages. Engaging in such a project allows businesses to enhance their reputation and engage with prestigious clients like the City of London.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Barbican Centre Renewal - Furniture Designer

Notice Description

The requirement is to develop an overarching furniture strategy and bespoke designs for the Barbican Centre through the following stages: * An analysis of the proposed use of the Foyers, Conservatory, Learning Spaces, Sculpture Court and Lakeside in close consultation with the Barbican Renewal design team and using the RIBA Stage 4 design as a basis to classify types of spaces, zones, likely users and shifts at different times of the day and week, for example: o Comfortable, informal seating that can be easily moved and reconfigured for flexible use of spaces o Ergonomic design including for individuals with mobility challenges that is integrated in general seating areas o Furniture for quiet, individual work o Furniture for communal gathering o Moveable/ foldable/ stackable furniture for events held in different spaces o This analysis should also make recommendations for where bespoke or off the shelf products are most appropriate, taking into account the relationship to the Centre's architecture, budgetary and user experience considerations. * Where agreed with the Client, bespoke design of new Furniture befitting of the Barbican Centre's identity and history. The Furniture must: o Enhance the outcomes of the Renewal projects through complementing the Barbican Centre's design heritage, responding to user needs and demonstrating careful coordination and consultation with the Barbican Renewal Design and Client Team. o Be innovative in minimising whole-lifecycle carbon o Demonstrate holistic inclusive design across the site o Meet the relevant British Standards for furniture * A strategy for re-use of existing furniture and incorporation in overall design site wide. * Prototyping of bespoke items. * Recommendation for off the shelf furniture products, where appropriate, to ensure successful integration into site-wide design approach * Oversee manufacture and installation on site * Creation of guidelines to ensure the furniture is used and stored as intended, via a limited set of iterations and layouts.

Planning Information

Engagement will consist of a SMT Questionnaire that participating suppliers will be required to submit their responses via the following tender portal (https://cityoflondon.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069ad3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045287-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79934000 - Furniture design services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 May 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Jun 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Oct 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE MAYOR AND COMMONALTY AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF LONDON
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CITY OF LONDON
Postcode
EC2P 2EJ
Post Town
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI43 Haringey and Islington
Delivery Location
TLI31 Camden and City of London
Local Authority
Islington
Electoral Ward
Clerkenwell
Westminster Constituency
Islington South and Finsbury

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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