The Black Cultural Archives is a national institution that collects, preserves and celebrates the heritage and history of black people in Britain.

The organisation has created a flexible and dynamic learning centre in a Grade II listed hall in Brixton. It is the first exhibition to bring together documents, publications, objects and oral histories of the black community in the UK over the centuries.

Max Fordham's strategy involved creating a climate-controlled environment. The chiller and air handling units serving the archive and exhibition spaces were located behind a raised parapet to comply with planning regulations.