Gustafson Porter + Bowman named winner of LSE Public Realm Landscaping competition

Gustafson Porter + Bowman (GPB) have been formally appointed to prepare landscape design proposals for the reimagination, pedestrianisation and landscaping of Portugal Street, which currently bisects LSE’s University Quarter.

The landscape architecture practice was named winner of the LSE design competition by a jury panel comprising Julian Robinson, Director of Estates, Professor Suzi Hall, Head of the Department of Sociology, Professor Ricky Burdett CBE, Professor of Urban Studies and Director of LSE Cities, and Tito Molokwu, Students’ Union General Secretary. The jury considered their concept to be closest to LSE’s aspirations, presenting a sophisticated and elegant response to the design brief, including a focus on public art, inclusivity and accessibility.

Professor Ricky Burdett CBE, Professor of Urban Studies and Director of LSE Cities, commented: “For students, staff and the wider LSE community, the public spaces between our buildings have become central to the unique university experience. As an intensely urban institution at the heart of London, GPB's elegant proposals for Portugal Street will bring the city and the university closer together.”

Julian Robinson, Director of Estates at LSE, commented: “The LSE Estates strategy has two parts: creating world-class buildings to match our academic reputation and curating a distinctive LSE university quarter. GPB’s proposals will complement and enhance this ambition and will create a unique piece of public realm.”

Mary Bowman, a founding partner of Gustafson Porter + Bowman, commented: “We are thrilled to have won this competition to develop the concept design for the LSE public realm. Our proposal aims to make Portugal Street the heart of the Campus for students and faculty but also a destination for visitors who want to engage with and learn about the fantastic research and thinking taking place at LSE.”

The other teams competing in what was a keenly fought contest were: LDA, J&L Gibbons and Gillespies.

The panel were advised by:

· Thomas Rosemeyer, Project QS - Aecom

· Ruchi Chakravarty, Placemaking Consultant - Benoy

· Cheryl Smitham, Deputy Director of Capital Development, Estates Division, LSE

· Michael Clarke, Project Manager, Estates Division, LSE

· Francesca Udeariry, LSE Procurement

Design work is expected to start imminently, with completion of RIBA Stage 2 by the end of the summer. The first phase is expected to start on-site at the beginning of 2028.