University College London: Institute of Education at No.20 Bedford Way
University College London: Charles Clore House
We supported the phased delivery of UCL’s Masterplan project to reorganise and refurbish No. 20 Bedford Way - also known as Charles Clore House.
We provided heritage advice and produced reports to support the scheme throughout the pre-application and post-submission stages of Phase 1b, including an Initial Heritage Assessment, Heritage Statement and Historic Building Recording. Our involvement in the project then continued for Phase 2, where we provided similar reports and heritage advice, informed by our experience in the delivery of Phase 1b.
No. 20 is part of a larger Grade II* listed Brutalist building, built in 1970–76 and designed by Sir Denys Lasdun, one of Britain’s foremost twentieth-century architects. No. 20 was purpose-built for the Institute of Education, and designed to have flexible interiors, to cater for the evolving needs of the university. Today, the building, which overlooks Russell Square in the heart of Bloomsbury, is home to the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies’ Library, which is considered to be one of the world’s leading legal research libraries.
The Masterplan project - undertaken by Burwell Architects - aimed to better utilise space within the building in order to maximise teaching, social and office accommodation and is the latest evolution of the building. The modernisation of No.20 preserves the building’s form and sensitively upgrades the interior to improve its comfort, accessibility, security and environmental performance. The project went on to win an RIBA London Award in 2023.
Client: University College London
Architects: Burwell Architects