single target for attacks. At the same time, Thames House, which was largely used as government offices by then, became vacant when the Department of Energy left the southern half in 1989 and it was decided to convert and refit much of it for MI5's use. The GMW Partnership undertook the design and Mowlem carried out the necessary reconstruction work from 1990, which included part-infilling of the building's distinctive archway. An automated miniature monorail within the building brings files up from the basement of Thames House to staff working within. The refurbished Thames House was officially opened on 30 November 1994 by Prime Minister John Major. The building was shared with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) until that organisation moved to 1 Horse Guards Road alongside HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office in 2013. On 1 June 2007, the building (other than the steps that give access to it) was designated as a protected site for the purposes of Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. The effect of the act was to make it a specific criminal offence for a person to trespass into the building. Popular culture Up until its seventh series, the BBC television series Spooks used the exterior and lobby of the Freemasons' Hall in Great Queen Street as a location for the show's portrayal of Thames House. Since then Thames House has been used, although Freemasons' Hall is still used to show the entrance to the building. The third series of the BBC television series Torchwood used Thames House as the setting for the arrival of an alien species on Earth. See also SIS Building – Headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) The Doughnut – Headquarters of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) References 1928 establishments in England Buildings and structures on the River Thames Frank Baines buildings Government buildings completed in 1994 Grade II listed buildings in the City of Westminster Grade II listed office buildings Headquarters in the United Kingdom Imperial Chemical Industries Intelligence agency headquarters MI5 Millbank National government buildings in London Neoclassical architecture in London Office buildings completed in 1928 Office buildings in London