Hayhurst & Co has won RIBA’s competition to design a new educational facility at 66 Portland Place.

The practice beat AOC Architecture, Coffey Architects, Delvendahl Martin Architects and Featherstone Young to design the Clore Learning Centre.

The brief asked entrants to design a dedicated learning centre in the grade II* listed building where the RIBA will be able to offer hands-on, creative activities to diverse audiences. Its learning programme currently reaches 10,000 people a year across the country and this could double that by 2021.

Nick Hayhurst of Hayhurst & Co said the practice was delighted to win.

“We are really pleased to be working on the design of a space that will bring a new facility into the heart of 66 Portland Place,” he said.

“We are looking forward to working with the RIBA and Clore Duffield Foundation to develop our ideas for a vibrant and adaptable space that encourages visitors of all ages to learn about architecture.”

The entries were judged by new RIBA president Ben Derbyshire, chief executive Alan Vallance and Sally Bacon, executive director of the Clore Duffield Foundation, which is backing the project financially. Sarah Williams of S Williams Architects was the RIBA advisor.

Derbyshire said: “The creativity and quality of the proposals reflected the genuine commitment of our members to exciting the next generation about architecture and ensuring a diverse profession for the future. I am confident that Hayhurst & Co will deliver a truly inspirational space for all ages to learn about and explore architecture.”

Dame Vivien Duffield, chair of the Clore Duffield Foundation, said they were pleased by the enthusiastic response to the competition and were particularly impressed by Hayhurst & Co’s “creative, flexible and practical response”.

It should open in February 2019.