---
title: "1894 Building Switch Room Architectural Design Phase 1"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07863d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07863d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07863d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07863d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-10-13"
---

# 1894 Building Switch Room Architectural Design Phase 1

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07863d

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07863d)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07863d.json)

## Summary

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) commissioned architectural design services for Phase 1 of a central heating and plant building at the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. The design is for an open-air enclosure housing packaged plant units, based on proposals prepared by LDN Architects. The appointment also includes early design work for Phase 2, to establish the overall building arrangement and support integration of the two phases. The scope covers the central plant building and routes for distributing building services across the site; it excludes work to the existing buildings. The requirement is architectural design for a specialist building project at the Edinburgh observatory.

The procurement is complete and the contract is active. UKRI used a below-threshold limited competition. One lot was awarded to CB3 Design Associates Ltd. The contract was signed on 1 October 2026 and runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £34,000 excluding VAT (£40,800 including VAT). The award is for architectural design services. The published procurement data does not set out the evaluation criteria, so the basis used to select the supplier cannot be described.

The award demonstrates demand from UKRI for architectural design that can translate plant requirements into a coordinated building arrangement and integrate phased construction. A credible competitor for a similar requirement would need architectural capability in designing plant enclosures and central heating or building-services facilities, and the ability to coordinate site distribution routes with the overall building design. The work is tightly scoped: it concerns the central plant building and site services routes, rather than alterations to the observatory’s existing buildings. Suppliers able to deliver early-stage design across linked project phases, working from an established proposal and aligning the design so that later construction phases fit together, would be relevant when UKRI next has a comparable need.

## Notice

Central heating/plant building, Phase 1, at the Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. Design and construction of the central plant building is proposed to be split into 2 phases. Phase 1 (this Appointment) to be an open-to-air enclosure with packaged plant units as per LDN Architects 2024 proposals. This Appointment includes work stage 1 & 2 elements for Phase 2 with a view to establishing the general arrangement of the overall building during Phase 1, pursuant to efficient integration of the phases. This Appointment provides for the central plant building plus building services site distribution routes only; it does not include for any works to each of the existing buildings.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096396-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £34,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE |
| Postcode area | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CB3 Design Associates Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71220000 - Architectural design services

## Release History

- 13 Oct 2026 at 10:23 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096396-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096396-2026
  13th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.ukri.org/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07863d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07863d.json.