New Student Centre for University College London

The New Student Centre project demonstrates UCL’s com¬mitment to students and will provide outstanding facilities that enhance the student experience. The brief calls for a highly sustainable new building that is distinctive, with exceptional design quality, reflecting UCL’s global significance whilst not appearing elitist. It should be a building that is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming.

The New Student Centre will provide two primary functions: student learning space and a Student Enquiries Centre. A range of student learning spaces are required, and the building will provide ‘social’ spaces including a cafe as well as space for exhibitions. The learning spaces will vary in character and size, creating different types of individual study and group collabora¬tion settings. None of the spaces will be used for formal teaching. Dedicated to the needs of the students, the building will deliver spaces and furniture solutions that are flexible, adaptable, and IT resourced, with effective power provision.

Flanked by listed buildings, the new building will occupy a central campus site within the Bloomsbury Conservation area. The site is a prime entrance to UCL’s Bloomsbury campus and is used extensively by both pedestrians and vehicles. The project includes demolition of part of the adjacent Bloomsbury Theatre to enhance the circulation routes around and through the new building. The building will comprise four floor levels above the ground floors, and 2 levels of basement.