New 1,000-student centre sits between listed buildings in Bloomsbury

The doors have opened at Nicholas Hare Architects’ UCL student centre in Bloomsbury.

The £67m scheme, which officially opened this morning, provides 1,000 new study spaces, over eight levels.

A key focal point will be the walk-in student enquiries centre offering wellbeing support. There is also a multi-faith quiet contemplation room, a wellness room for meditation and dedicated consultation rooms that provide a calm and supportive space for students.

Kevin Argent, deputy director of UCL Estates, told BD the project had been challenging due to its location.

Argent said: “I joined UCL for this project, it is the flagship project in the estate’s programme between listed buildings in the Bloomsbury conservation area.

“There are a lot of sensitive buildings nearby including the biochemical facility, the London Centre for Nanotechnology and a theatre, and we decided to go down two storeys.

“This scheme really changes the face and landscape of the Bloomsbury campus.”

The building is on track to achieve Breeam “outstanding”, the highest measure of a building’s environmental, social and economic impact.

The project is part of Transforming UCL – the largest capital programme in the university’s history. It will see an investment of more than £1.25bn over the next 10 years.