In mid 2013, the LSE held an international design competition which drew over 100 entries.
Five architect teams were shortlisted via an architectural competition organised by LSE with the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects). The teams were:
- Grafton Architects, Ireland
- Heneghan Peng, Ireland
- Hopkins Architects, UK
- OMA, The Netherlands
- Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, UK
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) were chosen to design its new Centre Buildings Redevelopment (CBR).
The brief for the CBR called for world-class architecture which matches LSE’s international academic reputation. The brief also specified the need to demolish and redevelop a number of existing buildings on Houghton Street and Clare Market on the School’s Aldwych campus.
Professor Craig Calhoun, Director of the LSE, chaired the Jury Panel which made the final decision after presentations from the five shortlisted teams. He commented:
“From an extremely strong field of submissions, LSE has chosen Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to create a new structure at the heart of our campus. They have designed beautiful, dynamic buildings around the world and they offered an elegant, thoughtful submission to this competition. RSHP grasped that this would be a building at once for the university and for the city, an enhancement to public as well as academic space. My colleagues and I are delighted that the RSHP team will now work with us to complete the design and add to the excitement of our terrific London location.”
Director of Estates and Jury Panel Member Julian Robinson said:
“Each of the five proposals gave us pause for thought with innovative design responses. We intend this to be a seminal piece of university architecture so it was important we took time to get the decision right. The RSHP proposal goes beyond the School’s brief by giving us a new public square in the heart of the campus. We are looking forward to developing the designs with the RSHP team and are confident that the result will produce a highly sustainable and outstanding piece of architecture.”
Ivan Harbour, Senior Partner leading the project at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, said:
"We are excited to be working with the LSE and we look forward to an open dialogue with the school, so that together we can create the best environment possible for the university and its students. Our new addition to the campus will enrich the urban context and reflect the essence of the LSE."
As part of the decision making process, a public exhibition was held where LSE staff, students and visitors were able to vote for their favourite design from the shortlist. This vote was taken into consideration by the School's jury panel when they met. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners won the public vote by an overwhelming margin.
The winning design provides a 6 storey building along Houghton Street with a 13 storey tower facing the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre and includes several external terraces. A new public square between the Library and Houghton Street provides an exciting new space at the heart of the LSE.
Talk to us
The LSE community and neighbours are invited to attend the monthly drop in sessions with the main contractor, Mace and LSE Capital Development staff will be held on the last Wednesday of each month between 1pm and 3pm in the Plaza Cafe.
estates.centrebuildings@lse.ac.uk