The Marshall Building, London School of Economics and Political Science
Special Award
National Panel Special Award
Application Type
Civic Trust Awards
Level of Award
Award
Region
Greater London
Local Authority Area
Westminster
Information about this scheme
From Lincoln’s Inn Fields to the intricate urban grain to the south, The Marshall Building responds sensitively to its context, while adapting to maximise natural ventilation, daylight, terrace gardens and city views. Spaces for sport, teaching, study, research and the arts are volumetrically and structurally interwoven, with tree-like structures transferring the structural spans required to accommodate the diverse brief. Under these branches the Great Hall, a new social space for the university is created, accessible to all, generously engaging with the wider public realm. The forecourt to Lincoln's Inn Fields and the generous entrances and newly pedestrianised street to the south are landscaped in Yorkstone, and create shelter, seating and a vibrant public realm. Careful study of Lincoln’s Inn Fields was undertaken to find an appropriate scale and expression to address the formal square and create a new front door for LSE to the city. As part of the university’s commitment to sustainability, reducing waste and energy use across the campus, the Marshall Building has achieved a BREEAM certification of “Excellent” demonstrating that the building is in the top 10% of UK new non-domestic buildings and meeting the project's sustainability objective. Access consultants formed an integral part of the Design Team providing advice through all stages, together with early consultation with the LSE Network of Disabled Staff and Students, Student Wellbeing Services and representatives of minority students allowed the diverse and specific needs expressed to form part of a holistically inclusive design. A Changing Places facility has been provided with specialised equipment to allow the university to cater for users who may need these enhanced facilities. A dedicated baby changing room is also provided further enhancing social inclusion. The design of the sports facilities accommodates sports wheelchair users to participate in team and individual sports.
Judges’ Comments:
“The building is exceptional in its contribution to the experience of its users and to the urban context which it helps to define.”
“The Marshall building is definitely a world class work of design.”
Credits
Client
London School of Economics and Political Science
Architect
Grafton Architects (Architect and Lead Consultant)
Main Contractor
Mace
Structural Engineer
AKTII
Services Engineer
Chapman BDSP
Landscape Architect
Dermot Foley and Associates
Cost Consultant
Gardiner and Theobald
Project Manager
3PM
Acoustic Consultant
Applied Acoustic Design
Universal Design Consultant
Buro Happold
Archaeologist
MOLA
BREEAM
Chapman BDSP
Catering Consultant
Tricon
Design Manager
Plan A (Design Manager Support)
Ecologist
Middlemarch
Facade Consultant
Billings Design Associates
Wayfinding Consultant
Steer
BIM Consultants
Bim Technologies
Planning Consultant
Turley
Other
Sound Space Vision (Performance Consultant)
Fire Engineering
Chapman BDSP
Approved Building Control Inspector
Meridian
Geotechnical Engineer
Soiltechnics
Transport Consultant
Steer
Other
Space and Place(Sports Consultants)
Glazing Subcontractor
GIG
Other
Burwell Deakins (Role: Working/ Learning Environment; Loose Furniture, Fittings and Equipment Consultant)
Lighting Consultant
Chapman BDSP
Other
Chapman BDSP with Wide Angle Consultants
Rights of Light, Daylight and Sunlight Consultant
Delva Patman Redler
Other
Publica ( Public Realm Consultant)
Other
Picture Plane Visualisations and 3D Images
Other
MSAFE (Principal Designer)
Owner
McGee (Demolition/Substructures Contractor)
Other
Techrete (Precast concrete cladding specialist subcontractor
Other
Putney and Wood (Stone cladding specialist subcontractor )
Other
Getjar (Concrete specialist subcontractor)
Design Manager
Schumann Consult
Other
Bourne (Structural Steel subcontractor)
Other
EDGE (Post Tensioned Concrete Specialist)
Other
Dornan (MEP Subcontractor)
Other
Swiftcrafted Ltd(Specialist subcontractor Joinery/Doors/Acoustic Linings/ Timber Ceilings, Toilet Cubicles/Fitted Furniture)
Other
Loughton (Soft Flooring/Tiling)
Other
I & S Ltd (Dry Lining (Plasterboard Partitions, Suspended Ceilings, SFS)
Other
Lazenby (Polished Screeds and Terrazzo subcontractor)
Other
Courtcraft (Squash Court Fit-Out)
Other
Swift (Blockwork subcontractor)
Other
ITech ltd. (Roofing)
Other
Kingspan(Raised Access Flooring subcontractor)
Other
Delta Fabrications (Metalwork subcontractor
Other
E Poole Painting & Decorating
Other
Realtime Ltd (External Works)
Other
Optima (Glazed Screens subcontractor)
Other
Titan (Lifts)
Other
Showcase(Loose Furniture Bespoke Furniture at Ground Floor)
Other
Central Flooring (Sports Flooring)
Primary Use Class
Class D1c - Education