While the Royal Society are busy showing off their marbled halls to thousands, the Royal Institution’s Grade I listed headquarters on Albemarle Street is closed off for a major refit. The Terry Farrell masterplan is transforming the 18th Century building by providing a new entrance, dining facilities and other public spaces.

I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the construction site last week, along with a few RI members. Hard hats and fluorescent vests were de rigueur, as we carefully manoeuvred among buckets, planks and scaffolding.

Anyone familiar with the building would be startled at the sheer scale of the change. Whole rooms have been knocked through to make way for a cafeteria, restaurant and bar in the new atrium area. Every surface has been stripped back for rejuvenation. Even Faraday’s desk is gone from the lecture theatre, while new floors and seats are installed.

It’s all to budget and, more-or-less, to time. Construction is due to finish in February 2008, with an official reopening in the early summer. Despite ongoing work, the Christmas Lectures and a few other events will be held in the main theatre later this year.