News updates

September 2021

Site Progress 
Work is progressing well on site, works are nearing completion and the main contractor Mace are getting ready to hand over the building to LSE in the coming weeks. The office floors are in the final stages with snagging works well underway.  Teaching floors are being fitted out with fixed joinery items and the audio visual equipment is being installed.  The sports hall flooring is laid and waiting sports markings and the two new squash courts are fitted out. 

Building handover to LSE 
Mace are nearing completion and will be handing the building over to LSE in Michaelmas term 2021.  The Estates project team will then undertake the necessary fit out works to enable the LSE to occupy the building.  It is envisaged that the Student’s Union, teaching, and academic floors will be fully occupied and operational for the start of the Lent term 2022.  

Pedestrianisation Portsmouth Street
As part of the LSE’s ongoing public realm strategy Estates have been working with Westminster City Council to pedestrianise Portsmouth Street.  The designs for this have now been finalised and works will commence as soon as possible following the completion of the Marshall Building interface with Portsmouth street.  Once completed Portsmouth Street will have additional greening with seven new trees, new street lighting and a level surface connecting the Marshall Building to Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, the Island site, Parish Hall and the Peacock Theatre.   

Updated Pedestrianisation Plan (PDF)
View from Lincoln's Inn Fields (PDF)
View from Portugal Street (PDF)

These works are commencing on Monday 27 September and will be carried out in phases, as outlined below:

  • Phase 1 - Portugal Street works on the pavement by MAR start in September and end in October 2021;
  • Phase 2 - Porstmouth Street works between Portugal Street and Sheffield Street start in October 2021 and end in January 2022;
  • Phase 3 - Porstmouth Street works between Sheffield Street and Sardinia Street/Lincoln's Inn Fields start in January 2022 and end in April 2022. 

During the works of phase 2 and phase 3 the road will be closed to vehicular access and partially closed to pedestrians. 

Access to Lincoln Chambers and the LSE merchandise shop will be from Sheffield Street. 

The images below show the pedestrian routes during the works on Portsmouth Street.

 

Phase 2 pedestrianisation
Phase 2 - pedestrian route through Portugal Street, St. Clement's Lane and Sheffield Street.

 

Phase 3 pedestrianisation
Phase 3 - pedestrian route through Sheffied Street, Kingsway and Sardinia Street.

 

May 2021

Site Progress 
Work is progressing well on site and Mace is nearing completion of the façade cladding installation.  One of the two tower cranes has been removed and the site cabins have been removed.  Internally works are well progressed with carpet being laid on upper levels, toilet panelling systems being installed and tea point services installed ready to fit-out.  Lecture theatres fit-out has started with tiered flooring installations in progress.

Building handover to LSE 
The main contractor Mace anticipate that they will complete all works and hand the building over to LSE in Michaelmas 2021.  The Estates project team will then undertake the necessary fit out works to enable the LSE to occupy the building.  It is envisaged that the Student’s Union, teaching, and academic floors will be occupied and operational for the start of the Lent term 2022.  


June 2020

Temporary road closures – Portugal and Portsmouth Street 1 June 2020 to 1 July 2021

Mace are progressing two road closures in relation to Marshall Building Project.

The temporary closure of Portsmouth Street has now been agreed, with Westminster City Council following consultation with the local community, in order to facilitate:

  • safe delivery and installation of large pieces of precast concrete cladding panels
  • installation of new Tower Crane weekend of 11 July 2020
  • removal of existing Tower Crane weekend of 18 July 2020

As noted on the plan below the closure will extend the whole length of Portsmouth Street, a hoarding will be erected along the edge of the pavement opposite the site for safety.  Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and access to all businesses and buildings will be maintained and deliveries to them managed through Mace, who are liaising directly with all impacted parities.  An additional pedestrian crossing will be provided near the entrance to 50LIF offices.

Portsmouth St closure June 20 - July 21
Road closure on Portsmouth Street 

A section of Portugal Street will be closed by UK Power Networks (UKPN), see plan below, from 7 - 27 July 2020 to facilitate:

  • Cabling works for the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and the LSE Marshall Building developments, thus avoiding two road closures.
  • Removal of two of the RCS tower cranes over the weekends of June and 04 July 2020
Portugal St closure cabling 7 - 27 July 20
Road closure on Portugal Street

 

April 2020

During the week of 23 March 2020 Mace introduced a temporary suspension of site works across all construction projects in the UK. Since site shutdown, the project team have reassessed the risk and mitigation measures required, identifying vulnerable areas and activities where people meet and gather, and implemented additional measures to distance individuals.  Confident that construction work can continue safely in line with Government guidance the site reopened on 14 April, read more....

March 2020

Would you like to come and see behind the gates of the latest LSE construction site?  The Marshall Building is due to open for the start of the Michaelmas term 2021 and will provide approximately 18,100m² of new teaching, academic and sports facilities over twelve floors.  If you want an inside view of how the building is being constructed and the vision for the Marshall Building, Mace are opening the doors to the site on 16 and 20 March 2020 as part of Open Doors 2020.  This event will be particularly useful if you have an interest in construction, sustainability and the built environment.

As this is a site tour certain clothing restrictions apply for Health and Safety reasons. Unfortunately you cannot be allowed in the construction area if you are wearing a skirt or dress. All visitors must be wearing suitable clothing including trousers in line with Personal Protective Equipment requirements.  You will also need to wear sensible footwear.

All visitors must be booked in before the site visit. If you are interested in signing up, please contact caroline.cochrane@macegroup.com, indicating which of the following sessions you are interested in, first come, first served: 

Monday 16 March 2020

1pm - 2pm
3pm - 4pm

Friday 20 March 2020

10am - 11am
11am - 12 noon

November 2019

The construction of the new building is progressing well, the basement and ground floor frame installation have been completed and the first floor slab is under construction. The whole of the buildings in-situ concrete frame is on target to be completed by summer 2020.

The ground floor slab and column structures are now constructed.  The column and beam structure is referred to as ‘trees’ by the Architects providing a prestigious entrance the LSE’s new building.    

image for web
Ground floor 'tree' structure

 

Great Hall art exhibition
Architectural image of the proposed Great Hall

The Great Hall, which will be the main point of entry into the building, is a vast public space providing a levelled connection between Houghton Street and Lincoln’s Inn Fields.  The hall delivers 800 square metres of flexible and convivial civic space and is envisaged to be traversed and used by hundreds of people each day. The Great Hall is also intended to provide a perfect setting for large-scale events such as exhibitions, talks, dinners and open days, that will enable us to welcome prospective students, alumni, friends and partners to our campus.

Great Hall reception
Architectural image of the proposed Great Hall

February 2019

Town Hall Meeting - Tuesday 5 March 2019 at 12:30pm

Come and find out more about site activities and how these may impact on you. LSE Estates and Mace invite the LSE Community to attend a presentation providing an overview of the next phase of development, with the opportunity to ask questions at the end. The presentation will be held in Clement House Room CLM 7.03.

There are limited spaces for these events, so please confirm your interest by email to Estates.marshall@lse.ac.uk and spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you unable to attend, view the presentation slides (pdf) from previous Town Hall meetings.

Mace have produced an animated video showing the construction sequence of the building.

 

Construction animation MAR Construction animation MAR
Animation of the Marshall Building construction sequence by Mace

 

Pavement closure 6 - 17 February 2019

The pavement on the corner of Portsmouth Street and Lincoln’s Inn Fields outside the Marshall  project site will be closed for the next two weeks.  We would ask all pedestrians to follow the diversion, use the pavement and pedestrian crossings to ensure your safety (see safe route below).

19_0090 Lincolns Inn Fields-Closed Pedestrian Route-A1_v1-MAPONLY
Safe pedestrian route during pavement closure on Lincoln's Inn Fields

January 2019

Demolition and foundation construction

The demolition of 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the construction of the new raft foundation and basement floor slab, undertaken by McGee Ltd, is now approaching completion.  McGee are on target to hand the project over to Mace on 6 March 2019.   Mace Group Ltd were appointed by the LSE to carry out the next phase of works, to construct the Marshall Building.

To maximise programme efficiency and cost benefits for the project, there will be a short period of four weeks when both McGee and Mace will be working on site.  Mace will take possession of approximately half of the site on 4 February 2019; whilst McGee complete their work in the remaining half.  

2019 January site
View of site January 2019

Mace will continue to progress the works in the basement of MAR aiming to reach ground level by August 2019.  By December 2019 the building structure will become visible over the perimeter hoarding as the first floor slab is cast.  The building will really start to take shape as the concrete frame rises at a steady pace reaching the roof level by July 2020.  The project is due to be competed ready for use at the start of the new academic team in 2021.

Please be aware that the construction activities are not expected to create high levels of noise works. Mace working hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and will not need to adhere to the 2 hours on 2 hours off policy, which is required during the more disruptive demolition phase. Allowable noise, dust and vibration levels as well as working times have recently been approved by Westminster City Council under Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The Estates team  will continue to monitor the works for the duration of the project.

You are invited to Town Hall Meetings

Should you wish to learn more about the scheme, the LSE Estates Team and Mace are providing the opportunity for the LSE community to attend a presentation that will provide an overview of the next phase of development, with a Q&A session at the end. The presentations will be held at the following dates, times and locations:

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

5 February 2019

12noon to 1pm

OLD.1.28, 1st floor, Old Building

6 February 2019

1pm to 2pm

32L.G.15, ground floor, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields

6 February 2019

5:30pm to 6:30pm

32L.G.15, ground floor, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields

There are limited spaces for these events, so please confirm your interest by email to Estates.marshall@lse.ac.uk and spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Keep updated

Webcams are in position on the roof of NAB and the Lionel Robbins Building capturing the live progress of the project; take a look.

To get a glimpse of the future and view the Marshall Building ahead of 2021. LSE Advancement and LSE Estates have worked with Grafton Architects and FlashForward to create a fly through of the building

Having achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating in the design of the Marshall Building with a score of 84.2% we are delighted to share the recent news that the building has been shortlisted for the BREEAM Public Projects award due to be determined on 4 March 2019

Project contacts

The Capital Development Team in the Estates Division will continue to be the contact point for any queries or concerns about the project.  Please use the dedicated email address: estates.marshall@lse.ac.uk