Senate House, University of London

The University of London’s Grade II* listed Senate House, designed by Charles Holden, was in urgent need of refurbishment and updating.  An estate consolidation programme initiated by the refurbishment of an adjacent office building provided the opportunity to undertake the phased reconfiguration and refurbishment of the 70 year old building services infrastructure.

BDP undertook a programme of phased work including rewiring with energy efficient lighting, power, data and voice systems, updating the existing heating system, reconfiguring the library reader’s services with new fittings, and making the original library shelving accessible for DDA compliance.

Where the reconfiguration of internal partitions was required Holden’s original design rational was observed.

Brief

  • upgrade building services and incorporate contemporary building and life safety systems with the minimum of intervention
  • refurbish interior fabric, finishes and fittings commensurate with its listed status

Results

  • a refreshed interior that sympathetically incorporates the facilities of a contemporary academic library and learning

Facts

Location: London, UK
Client: University of London
Construction cost: £33m
Completed: phased from 2006

Integrated services

interior design, environmental engineering, lighting

Links to images