Barbican Centre

A landmark Scan to BIM project enabling the Barbican’s sustainable renewal, balancing heritage preservation, accessibility, and modern performance through digital precision.

Digitally shaping the future of a cultural icon.

The Barbican Centre is one of London’s most distinctive cultural landmarks, recognised globally for its Brutalist architecture and ambitious design. Set within a 40-acre residential estate, it brings together performance spaces, galleries, cinemas, learning venues, and public realm that support a vibrant creative community.

As part of a major Renewal Programme led by the City of London Corporation, the Barbican is evolving to remain resilient, inclusive, and future-ready. Plowman Craven was appointed to deliver a comprehensive Scan to BIM survey, providing the precise spatial intelligence needed to support a sensitive and ambitious transformation of this iconic site.

Client challenge.

The Renewal Programme seeks to preserve the Barbican’s architectural identity while unlocking new accessibility, sustainability, and community value within the existing footprint. It is a project focused on re-use, reinvention, and long-term stewardship.

Key challenges included:

Operating across a busy cultural campus with live performances, education programmes, and continuous public access

Navigating layered internal environments, public terraces, landscaped areas, and concealed utilities across multiple levels

Ensuring accuracy at scale across heritage fabric, active public realm, and complex built forms

The scope comprised a full Scan to BIM survey of the Barbican Centre and selected surrounding estate areas, supported by topographic and utility tracing across public highways and pedestrian routes.

Our
solution.

To support the Renewal Programme with clarity and care, Plowman Craven delivered a phased, integrated surveying strategy designed for precision, safety, and minimal disruption.

Approach and technology

Mobile laser scanning with NavVis VLX to rapidly capture internal and external environments

UAS technology (Vogel Freedom) to survey public realm and hard-to-reach areas from above

High-precision static laser scanning to establish control networks and capture complex residential towers

Vehicle-mounted GPR (Stream Up) to map utilities efficiently without lane closures or public interference

A coordinated team of more than 50 specialist survey professionals, supported by dedicated project leads and technical experts, ensured a consistent, high-quality delivery across all workstreams.

Project benefits.

The Renewal Programme depends on balancing public experience, heritage sensitivity, and modern performance. The survey supported this by giving the team a clear, accurate picture of the estate, helping them plan improvements that protect culture, enhance accessibility, and sustain the Barbican as a welcoming place for all.

Fast and unobtrusive data capture

High-efficiency mobile and aerial workflows reduced time on site while maintaining comfort and continuity for staff, visitors, and residents.

Continuity of cultural operations

Careful planning and communication ensured live creative activity, public movement, and estate operations continued without disruption.

A reliable foundation for design

The BIM model provides a robust, detailed base for design development, enabling confident decision-making and cross-discipline collaboration.

Supporting sustainable heritage renewal

Detailed digital records help guide refurbishment, protect historic fabric, and enable responsible adaptation of a globally significant cultural asset.

“Thanks to Plowman Craven for all their work on the project.”

“It’s been quite an undertaking, and we’ve been very happy with the way their teams worked onsite and collaborated with us. I know the design team are already finding the model hugely useful as design develops.”

Nick Adams

Strategic Project Lead, Barbican Renewal Project

Project outcome.

The Barbican Centre survey represents one of the most extensive and complex Scan to BIM programmes undertaken in a live heritage setting. It has set a benchmark for digital surveying across culturally significant and operationally active estates.

Key achievements

Delivery of high-accuracy digital assets aligned to evolving design requirements

Seamless collaboration with client teams, consultants, and stakeholders

Proven capability demonstrating how digital surveying supports conservation, adaptation, and future-focused transformation

This work provides the foundation for the Barbican’s ongoing evolution, ensuring a resilient, sustainable, and creatively inspiring environment for future generations.