Firoz Lalji Global Hub – 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields , London / Vereinigtes Königreich

 

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has an established track-record of procuring world class architecture and is therefore delighted to announce in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the launch of a new competition to design its first net zero carbon building at 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. 

 

LSE is committed to creating an exemplary estate, with buildings and facilities that are equal to its international academic standing and has already made significant investments in inspiring new buildings and enhancing the public realm, including the recently completed Marshall building by Grafton Architects. LSE is one of the world's leading universities with a truly global reach, competing for students and staff with Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Stanford.  

 

LSE has been firmly established in the centre of London since 1895, sited on a tight urban campus adjacent to the Aldwych and Kingsway. Intent on remaining in its current location, the School has plans both to expand its intake and to improve the quality of its estate to meet the high expectations of staff and students.  The RIBA design competition for 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, is part of LSE's objective to transform the quality of its estate. 

 

The design and civic qualities of the new building will enhance both local and international perceptions of LSE and transform the identity of the south side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, one of London’s oldest and most emblematic landscaped squares, while respecting and complementing the historic context of many of the neighbouring buildings and public realm. The new building will celebrate LSE's multi-disciplinary approach to the social sciences and enhance the experience of students, staff and researchers in this unique urban context.

 

Expressions of interests are sought from suitably experienced architect led, design teams, for the creation of a new academic building of 12,540m2 GEA, which will house conference facilities, executive education, a data science institute and associated academic departments and the Firoz Lalji Africa Institute.

 

This will be the School’s first net zero carbon building and will be an exemplar of sustainability, health and wellbeing and innovative conferencing technology in a post Covid world.  Design Teams will consider the most sustainable and cost-effective strategies that balance the need to save embodied carbon (including potential part retention) against the creation of an efficient, adaptable and cost-effective design that reduces operating costs and optimises long-term sustainability.

 

The Design Competition is a two-stage process.  Expressions of Interest will be sought at the first phase, following which a shortlist of up to six design teams will be selected and issued with the competition brief and from the design submissions the winning team will be selected. All shortlisted teams will be paid an equal honorarium of £20,000 +VAT.

 

The deadline for receipt of applications is 14:00 GMT on Friday 21 January 2022.

Julian Robinson, LSE’s Director of Estates said: 

 

Further information can be found on the competition webpage at www.ribacompetitions.com/35lif