Conference room with a long white table, wooden chairs, bookshelves, and large windows with sheer curtains. Modern office with rows of desks, computer monitors, slatted wooden ceiling, and lockers along the wall. A modern kitchen interior featuring red cabinets and three large, round pendant lights hanging from the ceiling. The countertop is white with a black faucet and sink on the left side. Above the countertop are wooden cabinets, and below it are more red cabinets with gold handles. There is a small black appliance on the right side of the counter, possibly an oven or microwave. Four grey chairs are partially visible at the bottom of the image, suggesting a dining area in front of the kitchen counter. Contemporary meeting room with a long white table, brown chairs, wall-mounted TV, and bookshelves. Modern office with a lounge area, workstations, wooden slatted ceiling, and large windows.
#
#

Home Case studies London School of Economics

A historic building transformed for the future of education

LSE’s Old Building has been reimagined to meet the needs of a modern university community. The refurbishment preserved its historic character while introducing sustainable upgrades, safer infrastructure and flexible spaces that allow teaching, research and administration to thrive.

Project partners

  • Hawkins Brown
  • Fulkers
  • Webb Yates Engineering

Key features

  • Live refurbishment across 54,000 sq ft
  • SKA Gold certified for sustainability
  • Redesigned link bridge with structural upgrades
  • Phased delivery and video handovers

The London School of Economics and Political Science's (LSE) Old Building is at the heart of its central London campus and needed a significant refurbishment to meet modern academic and administrative demands. The space had to remain operational throughout, while supporting department relocations, upgrading infrastructure and improving safety, efficiency and usability.

A collaborative approach in a live environment

The Old Building remained fully operational throughout the 77 week refurbishment, requiring careful coordination to minimise disruption. Weekly design workshops, detailed scheduling and clear reporting kept the programme on track, while page-turn sessions and video handovers gave the Facilities Management team confidence in navigating new systems. The team demonstrated flexibility by accelerating the fit out of half a floor at the client’s request and addressing unforeseen ceiling void issues without delaying progress.

Safety and sustainability in action

Health and safety was prioritised with measures such as a PPE sample board and the strategic relocation of welfare facilities to maintain accessibility. Environmental performance was also central to delivery, with the project achieving SKA Gold certification. A highlight of the refurbishment was the redesigned link bridge, developed with Webb Yates Engineering to provide essential structural upgrades while complementing the building’s historic character.

Seamless transition, lasting results

The phased handover ensured a smooth transition, supported by training sessions, video documentation and stakeholder workshops. Personalised touches, such as welcome cards on desks, helped staff settle into their refurbished spaces quickly. The project was completed on time and fully aligned with LSE’s objectives, demonstrating how clear communication, adaptability and strong stakeholder engagement can deliver the renewal of a heritage academic building to the highest standard. The result is one that LSE is pleased to see serving its community for generations to come.

  • Aldwych, London
  • 54,000 sq ft
  • 77 weeks
  • SKA Gold

Explore another project

View project