In the early 2000s, I stood on a construction site on Euston Road, surrounded by concrete and steel and the buzz of something bigger taking shape.
We were building Wellcome Trust's new headquarters, the Gibbs Building. I was there not as a bystander but as the IT lead, helping to design and implement the digital heart of the space. From structured cabling to server rooms, it was a bold, forward-looking project.
I still remember the day we placed a time capsule into the foundations, a small but symbolic moment. It wasn't just about what we put inside; it was about what we were building together, a place that would last, a place with purpose.
Two Decades Later — A New Chapter Begins
More than twenty years later, I read that Wellcome has committed to making the Gibbs Building net zero by 2030. Rather than relocating, they've chosen to retrofit and renew. Concrete steps are underway to achieve building decarbonization. Wellcome has engaged specialized architects and engineering consultants to scope out retrofit solutions for the Gibbs Building and the Wellcome Collection. The top priority is to eliminate fossil fuels in building systems – for example, by replacing gas-fired heating with fully electric heating and cooling solutions powered by clean energy
That decision struck a chord — not just professionally, but personally. As a Wellcome Trust pensioner, I still feel a stake in what the Trust does and how it chooses to lead. Seeing them take a thoughtful, responsible approach to sustainability makes me proud to have been part of its story.
Wellcome has the resources to start again—a new site and flagship. But instead, they're taking the more meaningful route: evolving what they already have. That's not just sustainability—that's stewardship. They'll remove fossil fuels from the building's systems, switch fully to electric heating and cooling powered by 100% renewable energy, and make the whole space more energy-efficient and accessible.
These aren't just upgrades—they're a reflection of values.
A Personal Reflection on Purpose
As someone who helped bring that building to life, I find it emotional to see it treated not as obsolete but as part of the future. Too often in tech and society, we rush to tear down and start over. But the Gibbs Building still has strong bones.
What it needs now is a new heart. And that's what it's getting.
This move isn't about nostalgia. It's about continuity. It's about recognising that the things we build—with care and foresight—can still serve, adapt, and matter.
Legacy, Retold
We don't often get to revisit the chapters we helped write.
But when we do, and we see that our work still stands, still serves, it's a quiet kind of reward.
The Gibbs Building still stands. And now, it will stand for something more.
