EDUCATION
THE FUTURE FACE OF FASHION London College of Fashion, part of University of the Arts London (UAL), is moving from six separate buildings currently spread across London to an inclusive and sustainable new, single site. Opening in autumn 2023, it will be one of the largest higher education buildings in an urban location to be BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and deploy natural ventilation.
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ondon College of Fashion (LCF), UAL, leads the world in fashion business, media and design education, and has nurtured creative talent for over a century by offering courses in all things fashion. Its new home – set at the core of the vibrant East Bank regeneration – will sit among global cultural brands such as Sadler’s Wells, the BBC and V&A East. The landmark development will offer 36,000m² of inspirational space for learning with lecture theatres, studios, galleries and interactive showcase areas across 15 floors. This new building, which will be a hub for the future of fashion research, education and innovation, is the work of a design and delivery team including architect firm Allies and Morrison, cost consultant Gardiner & Theobald and construction project manager Mace. It will be capable of accommodating a variety of different uses and specialist zones, thanks to innovative, integrated solutions from global engineering consultancy Buro Happold.
Spearheading sustainability Buro Happold’s involvement in the new facility builds upon its impressive knowledge of the East London area, dating back to 2003 and its involvement in the masterplan for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and legacy planning.
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BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ certification was something the university called for in the original design brief and was met with positivity by the client – London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). The university had recently demonstrated how to deliver a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ building at the Wimbledon College of Art and continues to be committed to its buildings being leading examples of sustainable design. “We knew from day one that this was the LLDC’s goal, so it was at the forefront of our minds at every stage of design,” says Damian Wines, Associate Director at Buro Happold. The close-knit project team worked together with end-users, LLDC and its partner London College of Fashion, UAL, to understand the use of each space within the facility over a typical 10-week term. By developing an energy model for the facility, the project team was able to create a servicing strategy that would benefit productivity and creativity for each user, while optimising energy consumption. Wines adds: “From our early discussions, we learnt that certain spaces, such as practical workshop areas, might be used less intensively early in the term but increase dramatically later on when assignments and deadlines are due. With the client’s commitment to sustainability clear from the outset, building management systems and lighting controls
