Sunand Prasad鈥檚 practice is set to be chosen to work on a radical refurbishment of Guy鈥檚 tower, part of Guy鈥檚 and St Thomas鈥� hospital in London, 黑洞社区 understands, Penoyre & Prasad will design the 34-storey tower鈥檚 revamp, which is understood to be worth at least 拢30m

The aim of the project is to make the seventies building, designed by Watkins Gray, more energy efficient and to repair defective concrete.

The makeover of the London Bridge tower is also intended to complement Renzo Piano鈥檚 Shard, being built on the adjacent site.

The extent of the refurbishment is under discussion. Plans range from replacing the crumbling concrete on the services tower, which houses lifts, to enclosing the main accommodation tower in a structure called the 鈥渨afer鈥�. This is designed to be higher than the main towers and would be a slim, rectangular form.

The building was one of the most innovative hospital designs of its time

The project is being funded by Guy鈥檚 & St Thomas鈥� NHS Trust and is likely to start on site next year. Penoyre & Prasad鈥檚 win follows a six-month feasibility study it began with Arup in 2008.

The building was one of the most innovative hospital designs of its time and is still the tallest hospital in the world.

Guy鈥檚 Hospital said no formal decision on an architect had been made. It said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e at the design stage at the moment but we hope to have it completed by 2012/13.鈥�

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