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​London’s 166-year-old Big Ben clock tower has been nominated for Britain’s leading architecture award following a five-year refurbishment that restored the iconic structure and was completed in 2022.

Some key facts:

• The tower is formally known as the Elizabeth Tower and houses the giant bell Big Ben, which has sounded the hours since 1859.

• The structure stands 316 feet tall (96 meters) and fell silent in 2017 when scaffolding was erected for major repairs.

• The refurbishment cost more than doubled from the original estimate of $39 million (or 29 million pounds) but has been widely praised upon completion.

• Craftspeople restored the clock to its original blue and gold color scheme after decades of being painted black.

• Traditional restoration methods were used, including stonemasonry, gilding, glass cutting and clockmaking, while incorporating modern upgrades such as LED bulbs and an elevator

• The project has been nominated for the RIBA Stirling Prize, with the winner to be announced Oct. 16, competing against new buildings and housing developments

READ MORE: London’s restored Big Ben clock tower is up for a top architecture prize

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