The Hall-Carpenter Room

Previously known as the Community Space

  It is designed... [to] hold gatherings, events, discussions and to host initiatives that promote inclusivity and intersectionality


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Re-launch of the Hall-Carpenter Room

We are pleased to announce the re-naming of the Community Space (originally launched in November 2023) as the Hall-Carpenter Room.

The name change has taken place to celebrate and recognise the LSE Library’s Hall Carpenter Archives, an extensive collection of archives and printed material documenting the history of LGBTQ+ activism in the UK since the 1950s, with intersectional representation from many protected groups.

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What is the Hall-Carpenter Room for?

This space has been established to cultivate an environment of inclusivity, understanding, and collaboration for individuals representing various protected characteristic groups. It is designed for staff and students to, for example, hold informal gatherings, events, discussions and to host initiatives that promote inclusivity and intersectionality; and foster and grow relationships with each other.

The inside of the Community Space, showing a spacious room with comfortable colourful furniture and gentle spotlight lighting

A close-up of the furniture in the Community Space, next to the windows

A closer look at the Community Space and the seating available. Small tables are shown, surrounded by blue and grey chairs. Next to these is a blue and grey modern sofa, and extra plastic chairs are stacked up next to this.



Where is it?

You can find the room on the 3rd floor of the Saw Swee Hock Building. 

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The room number is SAW 3.02; and the entrance looks like this:

Picture showing the entrance door to the Community Space



Guidelines and Code of Conduct

To ensure the well-being and comfort of all visitors, and to make this space a true reflection of our dedication to fostering inclusivity, we kindly request that everyone adheres to the Guidelines and Code of Conduct when using the space.

Holding ourselves accountable is essential for upholding the space's respectful atmosphere. Therefore, repeated breaches of these guidelines may result in temporary suspension of privileges within the Hall-Carpenter Room.


 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to book the room?

You need to book the room in order to enter and use it outside of the dedicated socialising timeslots (see below).

On the day, present your proof of your booking email to Security staff at the Saw Swee Hock reception desk (ground floor). They will then give you access to the room.

Please book the space at least 5 working days in advance, to ensure that your booking request is approved in time for your event.

How do I book the room?

For events or meetings organised by a student society, please request to book the room via the LSESU form. Students that aren't part of a society may also use this form; but requests will be approved at the discretion of SU Staff.

For staff events, please request to book this space on Resource Booker: check the room availability and book the space here.

Your booking request will be reviewed and approved/accepted based on whether your event/meeting promote inclusivity and intersectionality; and foster and grow relationships with each other.

How do I access the room on the day?

On the day, present your LSE ID and your booking email to Security staff at the Saw Swee Hock reception desk (ground floor). They will then give you a keycard to access to the room.

If you are booking on behalf of someone else, specify this when you make the booking. Then ensure that you forward the booking confirmation email on to the person who will be there on the day. 

Can the room be used for informal socialising?

There are timeslots every week that cannot be booked. In these timeslots, students and staff can walk in and use the space  for socialising, relaxing etc without needing to booking it.

The timeslots are:

  • Monday 2.00 - 4.00pm
  • Friday 10.00am - 12.00pm

Can I bring food and drink into the room, or change/move the furniture?

Food and drink

You can bring in food to the space, provided that you leave the room in the state that you found it in; as per the Guidelines and Code of Conduct.

LSE Catering can provide food and drink to this room as long as permission to do so is given by the LSESU. LSESU can also provide catering - see their website for more information.

However, you cannot serve or provide alcohol in the Hall-Carpenter Room; as LSE does not have the alcohol license needed to be able to do this. 

Furniture

At this time, changing the furniture or moving the furniture is not permitted; unless there is a strong justification to do so. Please email edi@lse.ac.uk in this case.

The furniture has been chosen specifically for accessibility reasons. Likewise the layout of the furniture ensures there is enough space for anyone with accessibility needs to navigate the room freely. 

Is the room accessible?

When organising your event in the space, remember to consider how to make the event accessible to people with disabilities. The Hall-Carpenter Room has features to ensure accessibility such as:

  • Lighting that can be dimmed, and adjustable window shutters
  • A portable 85-inch AV screen for large format presentations
  • Seating and tables of different heights and styles
  • Access to the room from a lift with accessible buttoning and announcements
  • Large emergency signage
  • Sound/acoustic control measures
  • Hearing Loop available on request from DTS.Teaching.Support@lse.ac.uk

What previous events have been held in the Hall-Carpenter Room?

To celebrate the opening of this new space in November 2023, we hosted an event every day of the week of its launch. These events are illustrative of the types of gatherings that can be held in the new space:

  • LGBTQ+ Games Night social  – Monday 06 November
  • BAME Cultural Group Mixer  – Tuesday 07 Nov: an opportunity to connect with others of different cultures, dress in cultural clothes and eat cultural snacks
  • Wind down Wednesday – Wednesday 08 Nov: a sensory session of slime making and clay activities
  • 'Semesta (Islands of Faith)' movie screening  - Thursday 09 Nov
  • Feminist-themed Tote Bag Decoration social  – Friday 10 Nov