New UAL Campus for Central Saint Martins at King's Cross

Status: 2011
Location: London

Client: University of the Arts London / Argent
Value: £145.0m

 

"Stanton Willliams are the team of architects who have nudged, negotiated, argued and persuaded the many different parties involved with designing and building the building. Paul Williams himself has shown infinite patience and real obstinacy in the realisation of a quality and adaptable environment for our staff and students."Jane Rapley, Head of Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design

"The energy will come from the students, tutors and the work. Our concept provides an architecture that inspires, a series of spaces that aim to liberate and make visible the energy"Paul Williams

"…quite simply the finest building completed by an AJ100 practice in the past year" AJ100 Building of the Year 2012 Judges

 

Following an original competition-winning scheme for a new building for Central St. Martin’s, part of the University of the Arts London, we were asked to masterplan and design a new 32,000 m² campus for 5,000 students.

The design combines the 19th century Grade II listed Granary building and transit sheds – with a 200 metre long new building that uses industrial materials and creates robust spaces for the students, full of natural light. An internal street draws daylight in and acts as a central circulation spine with suspended walkways, cafes, film, graphic and light projections. The spaces are designed to be flexible and ‘raw’, to allow the different departments within the college to develop their own identities, whilst maintaining the integrity of the buildings as a whole.

Performance spaces including two theatres and dance studios are designed alongside exhibition areas, a roof garden, bar and ticketing area. A sustainable energy strategy, including photovoltaic cells, has led to the building achieving a BREEAM rating of 'very good'. The new campus will provide an unparalleled inspirational and creative space for the university and its students.

Stanton Williams were also asked by King’s Cross developer, Argent, to create a new events pavilion at the edge of Goods Yard Square in front of the Granary building, and to design their new offices in one of the preserved transit sheds.

 

Awards
2013 Civic Trust Award
2013 Nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies van der Rohe Award
2012 Concrete Society Award, Overall winner
2012 RIBA Award
2012 AJ100 Building of the Year
2012 BCI Award, Major Building Project of the Year
2012 New London Award, Education Category
2012 World Architecture Festival Award, World’s Best Higher Education and Research Building
2012 RICS Award, Regeneration
2012 Public Building of the Year, Building Awards
2012 AIA UK Award for Design Excellence
2012 Mayor’s Award for Planning Excellence
2012 World Architecture News Education Award
2012 AIT Award Top Ten Education Selection
2012 LABC National Building Excellence Awards, Best Education Development
2008 Commended, MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards

 

Credits
Site Developer: Argent
Tenant: University of the Arts London
Structure: Scott Wilson
Environmental / Services engineering: Atelier 10
Architectural lighting: Spiers and Major
Quantity Surveyor / Employer's Agent: Davis Langdon
Landscape Architect: Townsend Landscape Architects
Main Contractor: BAM Construction
Photography: Hufton+Crow, John Sturrock and Andrew Putler
Video 1: © Marketing and Communications, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design
© Short Form Films
Video 2: Video curtesy of Monocle
Correspondent: Gillian Dobias
Filmmaker: Edurne Bargueño Vida