Why is LSE undertaking the CBR project?
One of the Schools' main objectives is for the standard of all School space to be commensurate with its international academic standing. The School has been planning to redevelop the Centre Buildings since 2003, although this was put on hold while LSE redeveloped 24 Kingsway (now the NAB) and built its award winning Saw Swee Hock Student Centre (SAW).
The current Centre Buildings are at the lowest quality and condition rating and are no longer fit for purpose. Any improvement scenario would require them to be fully decanted to enable significant building and refurbishment work.
The buildings perform poorly, both as academic offices and as teaching spaces, and offer little to students now that the Students’ Union facilities are relocated to SAW. Following considerable analysis the decision was made to demolish all the buildings forming CBR. We recognise that this will impact on the student and staff experience, but consider the benefits of a new efficient building with more space will outweigh the disadvantages to the School during its construction.
The architect’s proposals will not only create a state of the art flexible and highly sustainable academic and teaching building but will also create a new landscaped public square at the north end of Houghton Street.
The new building will also increase the gross internal floor area (GIA) of the centre buildings from 12,000m2 to nearly 18,000m2, allowing for growth in the School.