Insight
Conscious conferences at RCP London Events
A LOOK AT HOW THE UK’ S ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS’ HQ IS SERVING UP A PRESCRIPTION FOR EVENTS THAT PUT PEOPLE AND PLANET FIRST
R CP London Events is
redefining modern conferences and events, placing sustainability, wellbeing and giving back to society at the heart of its approach. Located within the UK’ s historic Royal College of Physicians’( RCP) headquarters, the award-winning venue proves that centuries of heritage can sit comfortably alongside forward-thinking innovation and a planet and people first mindset.
The RCP’ s Grade I listed home, a brutalist landmark overlooking Regent’ s Park since 1965, offers a unique blend of architectural significance and responsibility. The venue includes tiered auditoriums, flexible meeting and exhibition spaces, elegant dining rooms and a medicinal garden. Yet behind its timeless facade lies a strong sustainability strategy that has earned the RCP the Carbon Trust Standard and ISO 14001 certification for environmental management, and a deep commitment to social responsibility.
Designing events for everyone RCP London Events’ philosophy embeds sustainability and inclusivity into every decision, from how spaces are refurbished to what’ s served on the plate, which has led the venue to the creation of a new concept: conscious conferencing.
A shining example of conscious conferencing in action is the recent refurbishment of the Wolfson Theatre, one of the venue’ s flagship spaces. The team recognises that modern audiences are diverse in every sense, including neurological diversity.
The refurbishment therefore focused on introducing tech features such as MobileConnect assisted listening and live captioning, as well as a new muted and neutral colour scheme – now incorporating shades of grey and green, intended to create a calming environment that is sensitive to the needs of all attendees.
This inclusive mindset extends to catering and design choices, as well as spaces which are calm, intuitive and adaptable to different sensory needs.
Conscious conferencing is about giving back to society, too. As part of the RCP, a registered charity, the venue is deeply committed to giving back to society, with all revenue from events going back into supporting highquality patient care.
Left: Royal College of Physicians Medicinal Garden
Sustainable practices Across the organisation, 100 % certified green energy is used to power the building and energy systems have been upgraded to LED lighting and motion sensors. Waste management is meticulously reduced by the implementation of 20 different recycling streams, including food waste, which is collected and diverted into an anaerobic digester to supply power for the National Grid.
For refurbishments the venue works with environmentally conscious suppliers, using carpets woven from recycled fishing nets and locally sourced timber for wall panelling.
Catering reflects this ethos of responsibility. In partnership with Company of Cooks, RCP London Events curates menus that celebrate seasonality, locality and wellbeing. Plant-forward dishes take centre stage, with meat and fish offered as complementary dishes. Air-freighted produce has been eliminated entirely, and food waste has been reduced by 20 % through careful portioning and creative reuse of ingredients.
A blueprint for the industry One of RCP London Events’ most distinctive features is its connection to nature. The venue’ s Medicinal Garden features a unique and bespoke collection of over 1,100 plants that offer living examples of the history of medicine. Its event spaces are designed to make the most of natural resources, including natural light and nature, to enhance the wellbeing of everyone who walks through the doors. For example, large windows allow daylight to fill most of its meeting rooms, with its flagship spaces having direct views of the Medicinal Garden.
RCP London Events’ conscious approach demonstrates that sustainability, inclusivity and giving back to society are possible for venues – even heritage ones. n
58 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 139