This is a new building. The Student Centre serves 42,000 UCL students and is situated in Bloomsbury, London.
The aims of the project for the university were to create a world-class learning environment for students, a building which delivers architectural quality on a level commensurate with UCL’s expertise in The Bartlett, and a building which meets the highest environmental standards.
The spaces include networked computer rooms, desk space, group study rooms and open-plan study areas. The dedicated Student Enquiries Centre and help points located on Floor 1 of the building will be a new hub for support, where staff from different parts of the university (Student & Registry Services, Library Services, Information Services Division) can help with a wide variety of questions students may have.
Permanent displays of public art, alongside temporary exhibitions, enrich the physical and intellectual environment for the whole UCL community and external visitors to the public ground floor. The centre showcases inspiring new artworks by UCL alumna and Turner Prize winner Rachel Whiteread, as well as work by Slade School of Fine Art staff and students.
A number of facilities and unique spaces are spread across 8 floors:
• Floor B2: Quiet contemplation rooms for prayer and meditation for all faiths
• Floor B1: Study spaces
• Ground Floor: Reception, study spaces, access to Gordon Street
• Mezzanine: Study spaces, access to Japanese Garden and Wilkins Building
• Floor 1: Student Enquiries Centre, Student Support and Wellbeing, open study space
• Floor 2: Quiet study rooms, group rooms, open study space
• Floor 3: Café, quiet study rooms, group rooms
• Floor 4: Terrace, social study room, group room
• Passive first’ approach to design based on highly efficient building fabric which helps to regulate temperature and minimize energy use
• Projected 35% reduction in building carbon emissions compared to Building Regulations requirements (Part L 2013)
• Approximately 400m2 of photovoltaics (electric solar panels) on the roof providing clean, renewable energy
• ’Free’ summer cooling using a ground source borehole system
• Efficient sanitary fittings reduce water consumption by more than 50% compared to equivalent buildings
• Healthy and productive study spaces, optimising daylight, indoor air quality and providing a comfortable internal climate
• Highly durable materials help to minimise resource use associated with maintenance and repairs
• Biodiversity enhancements include planting in the Japanese Garden and a green roof which also have a positive influence on the microclimate
| Publication name | Publication comment | Publication link |
|---|---|---|
Benjamin Meunier: Engaging Students and Academics in Creating a New Model for Research Libraries: A Reflective Case Study on the UCL Student Centre |
| Award name | Award comment | Award year | Award link |
|---|---|---|---|
Winner. RIBA London Awards |
2021 |
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Special Prize Interior, Campuses. Prix Versailles |
2020 |
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Highly Commended. Concrete Society Awards |
Judges’ Comments:
This four-storey plus two basement levels building admirably fulfils its brief as a student hub, catering for 1000 study spaces, specifically designed for 24/7 occupancy and future flexibility.
The traditional brickwork and the brick-clad panels on the main east elevation harmonise with the existing streetscape providing contrast with the contemporary elements.
Exposed concrete is prominent throughout the building providing thermal massing. Brick-faced cladding panels have also been used to good effect. Load-bearing precast insulated sandwich panels were used at party wall locations.
The bespoke ‘hybrid’ use of precast and in-situ is innovative, as is the ‘supercharged’ thermal massing to cater for 27/7 occupancy. The quality of both precast and in-situ concrete exposed floors and walls is exceptional with clean, precise detailing. Acoustic insulation panels help to provide a quiet and studious working environment. |
2019 |
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Building Performance Award. Building Awards |
2019 |
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Civic Trust Award |
Greater London Region |
2019 |
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Project of the Year and Student Experience. Education Estates Awards |
2019 |
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Overall and Education Building Awards. Schueco Excellence Awards for Design and Innovation |
2019 |
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Judges’ Inspiration Award. Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) Awards |
2019 |
Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Their suggestions have enabled us to enhance and develop the services that we offer and improve the overall study environment within the building. We have worked collaboratively with colleagues in other departments such as Student and Registry Services and IT Services to ensure that colleagues are cross-trained as much as possible to provide an excellent user experience at the point of need. We will be using the lessons learned from our experience of managing and operating the Student Centre to inform service provision at our new campus – UCL East – which will be opening at the Olympic Park in Stratford in 2022.