Supporting LIMS

The Institute’s future depends entirely on grants and benefaction. If you believe that what LIMS does is important, please support it.

To make a donation, please contact Elizabeth Forrester (0203 417 4945, elizabeth(@)london-institute.org) or complete and return this form.

Endowed Fellowship Appeal

LIMS largest expense is the salaries of its Fellows. To be financially viable in the long term, LIMS has begun an appeal to raise money for part-time and full-time endowed Fellowships. An endowed Fellowship pays the salary of a Fellow through a donation of the funds necessary to maintain it indefinitely. For instance, a donation of £500,000 would maintain in perpetuity a 3-month part-time Fellowship. An endowed Fellowship always carries the donor’s name, regardless of whom it is occupied by. Endowed Fellowships are held by the Institute’s most eminent scientists. They can be for as little as one month a year and as much as twelve, and can be designated for specific scientific disciplines.

New Building Appeal

Through a generous donation, we were given the indefinite use of 35a South St, a Grade II building also in Mayfair. The building is currently dilapidated, and we need £330,000 to refurbish it. We have raised £150,000 and need to raise the remaining £180,000.

New building donated

LIMS’ original premises were at 22 South Audley St. As the number of scientists and staff increased, and with additional government and private investment, we began our campaign to find a new, larger building. In a generous show of support for LIMS and its work, the china merchant and benefactor Thomas Goode and Co. donated the use of 35a South St, Mayfair for an indefinite period.

Architectural Merits

35a South St is a stand alone, five-floor building built in the mid-18th century. It is one of only 66 Grade II* listed buildings in Mayfair. Acquired by Goode in the 19th century, it is now part of the their estate. The historic importance of these buildings, of which 35a is the oldest, was assessed by Heritage Architecture, who wrote:

“the Thomas Goode premises is probably the only remaining purpose built store in Mayfair that is still occupied by the original company, and one of few such in London...”.

In Need of Refurbishment

35a South Street is not used for retail, and has over recent decades fallen into disuse. “No. 35a, which is the oldest building in the group, is in extremely poor condition...mostly due to [past use] that is totally incompatible with the building’s quality”, writes Heritage Architecture. LIMS intends to refurbish 35a in a way that both respects the building’s architectural merits and befits a theoretical research institute.

Plans for Refurbishment

LIMS has been working closely with Westminster Council, English Heritage and architects Donald Insall to “structurally stabilise the building, repair the damage caused to its historic fabric, restore it to single occupancy and reinstate the 18th-century plan on the upper floors. The proposed work will thus enhance the historic interest of this listed building” (Donald Insall, planning application).

Architects — LIMS’ architects, Donald Insall, have worked on some of the UK’s most distinguished buildings, including Windsor Castle, the Royal Albert Hall, and Caius and Trinity Colleges, Cambridge. They have drafted our planning application and are orchestrating our interior design.

Benefits and anticipated outcomes

Once completed, the new premises at 35a South St will house approximately 30 full- and part-time scientists and staff, twice as many as before. It will be able to host conferences for 50 at a time, allowing us to invite hundreds of researchers each year. In addition to offices, there will be a seminar room for conferences, a guest room for visiting Fellows and a kitchen/coffee area for exchanging ideas.

The research space will reflect the building’s original layout and respect its listed status. Floors will be used as follows:

General Gifts

An unspecified gift will allow LIMS to spend your donation where it is most needed. You may if you wish fund a specific area of research (see current research Interests) or a particular type of position apart from Fellowships (visiting graduate student, postdoc, sabbaticals).