Top names vie for major LSE project

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Allies and Morrison, Carmody Groarke with Sheppard Robson, COBE of Denmark with tp bennett, RSHP with Tigg Coll and SOM are all shortlisted for the major central London scheme, which is expected to involve demolition and rebuild.

The announcement follows the recent appointment of Bouygues UK and Equitix as a preferred partner for the estimated £400 million scheme, which aims to deliver up to 2,000 student beds.

The project will deliver additional capacity on the site of a 1950s block originally built as offices for the nearby former Bankside Power Station and converted by LSE into a 600-bed student hall of residence in 1997.

Intended to become LSE’s ‘premier hall of residence’ – the project comes two years after David Chipperfield Architects with Feix&Merlin Architects won LSE’s competition for 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields – the final ‘set-piece’ academic building on its main Holborn campus.

Julian Robinson, director of estates at LSE, said: ‘This location will require a piece of world-class architecture which will meet the ambitions of both LSE and Southwark Council. The calibre of this shortlist is a testament to each studio’s exceptional design and delivery standards, each in their own design language.

‘The partnership with our development managers with such extensive sector specific knowledge is set to deliver a landmark building and raise the bar in the provision of affordable student accommodation in the city.’

A prequalifying exercise with a ‘mutually agreed longlist of architects’ took place in late 2023. The design competition is due to commence in late January and a core team is expected to be in place by April this year.

According to a press statement, the brief calls for an ‘exemplary piece of civic architecture’ with a focus on ‘environmental sustainability, health and wellbeing’. A planning application for submission to London Borough of Southwark is expected in 2025.

Judges will include Robinson; Ricky Burdett, director of LSE Cities; Ian Spence, director of residential and catering services at LSE; and James Relf, general secretary of the LSE Students’ Union.

Shortlist

• AHMM
• Allies and Morrison
• Carmody Groarke and Sheppard Robson
• COBE (DNK) and tp bennett
• RSHP with Tigg Coll
• SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)