Heritage and history
New life for the Tate Institute: locally listed building to be transformed into a thriving community space
Newham Council has appointed social enterprise ReSpace Projects to transform the Tate Institute, a valued community asset, into a 21st century social facility and versatile community space.
Collaborating with local architects Office S&M, ReSpace will refurbish the former social club in North Woolwich, employing their distinctive reuse and repurposing methods. Working in partnership with local stakeholders, the transformed building will serve as a multi-functional social enterprise, addressing the various needs and aspirations of the community.
Standing opposite Tate & Lyle’s sugar refinery in North Woolwich, the Tate Institute was built in 1887 to cater for factory workers and their families. It has assumed many roles over the years, from a library and air raid shelter to a sports and social club. Despite finally closing its doors in the 1970s, the venue’s legacy as a cherished community landmark has persisted. Its heritage and historical significance underscored by its local listing designation, reflecting its importance to the area.
We’re excited to work with the residents of Silvertown and Newham, and look forward to bringing the old Tate social institute back into community life.
Gee Sinha, Founder and Director of ReSpace
ReSpace Projects aim to harness the building’s rich heritage to deliver tangible and enduring benefits to the community. Their vision incorporates the building's past, present, and future and aims to create a lasting legacy that will positively impact the lives of those within the community.
The improvement will be delivered through three key stages, REinsTate, REgenerate and REspace to create areas consisting of an enterprise hub, workshops and event space, subsidised café, creative studios and community gardens, which will all be curated as one collaborative environment.
The design and construction phase has now started and will aim to make the building safe, watertight and operational by July 2024 to start opening the space for more community events.
Newham’s investment in the Tate Institute forms part of a wider package of Levelling Up Fund initiatives, aimed at delivering improved spaces and community wealth building opportunities for residents in the Beckton & Royal Docks community neighbourhood.
Darren Mackin, Director of Community Wealth Building, said: “The Tate Institute served as a very important social hub for the workers and residents of Silvertown for many years. Our investment to bring this space will give the building new life and purpose. ReSpace is an exemplary social enterprise that will deliver on our social and community wealth-building ambitions for the building and the wider North Woolwich area. I am pleased with their appointment and look forward to working with them on this innovative project.”
Gee Sinha, Founder and Director of ReSpace, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to fulfil the vision of a thriving social and enterprise hub. We’re excited to work with the residents of Silvertown and Newham, and look forward to bringing the old Tate social institute back into community life. We specialise in reusing otherwise wasted resources for social good, and hope the REinsTate project will go on to be a valued local asset for years to come. “
Hugh McEwen, Co-founder at Office S&M Architects, said: “As a Newham resident I’m proud to be working on restoring this important community building to its former glory for the local community, and delivering on the Just Transition strategy with Community Wealth Building and Circular Economy principles to make the building warm, welcoming, and sustainable.”
