Architects have been appointed to help rejuvenate two of Watford's most important heritage buildings.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) has been selected to lead on the design and refurbishment of Watford Colosseum and Watford town hall, as part of Watford Borough Council's wider Town Hall Quarter programme.

The award-winning company will set about repurposing the town hall as a modern office building, and adapting and enhancing the Colosseum - an entertainment and live performance venue.

Five million pounds will be invested, including £3.7m funding from the government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, helping to make both Grade II listed buildings more energy efficient.

Watford Colosseum

Watford Colosseum

FCBStudios will work alongside Mace Project Management, IoN Consulting and SFK Consulting to support the council in assessing the buildings and developing creative designs, which the council says will be "sympathetic to their history" but will refurbish them over the next two years, broadening their contribution to Watford’s economy, business life and cultural offer.

FCBStudios has previously worked on Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Estate and Dome, Theatre Royal Bath, London’s Southbank Centre, and The Postal Museum and Mail Rail, and projects have earned more than 50 Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA) awards, including the RIBA Stirling Prize.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: "We are delighted to be bringing on board architects who have an outstanding reputation for world-class design to work with us on protecting and improving two of Watford’s landmark historic buildings.

"What really made them stand out is their experience in conservation, heritage and entertainment venue projects, which tick all the boxes when it comes to the Colosseum and the Town Hall. I was impressed by their understanding of Watford and just how important these buildings are to our heritage and our future."

Watford Colosseum

Watford Colosseum

Colin Cobb, associate at FCBStudios, added: "Watford Town Hall and Colosseum are perfectly poised to be at the centre of the town’s developing cultural quarter. We look forward to working with Watford Borough Council to explore the role of a contemporary Town Hall as a meeting place, a civic, commercial, artistic and social hub for the community."

The refurbishment of the two historic buildings form part of wider scheme to revitalise this area of town, known as the Town Hall Quarter, which could see new homes and business ventures created.

The council remains on the lookout for a developer to help deliver the scheme.