This unique joint venture between University of East London and Birkbeck University of London has resulted in a major new campus for 3,400 students in central Stratford.
Located in the heart of Stratford’s expanding cultural quarter, the higher-education hub is part of the post-Olympic regeneration transforming the area. Our vision was to meet the growing aspirations of local people with an accessible, versatile and inspiring building that attracts a broad mix of students and serves a wide range of educational uses.
Our design champions an innovative and efficient way of sharing resources, offering flexible state-of-the-art facilities, among them lecture theatres, dance and music studios, and a learning resource centre. The facilities are able to adapt to shifting requirements, and are arranged around a central light-filled atrium that unifies the building’s floors. The abstract ‘pushed and pulled’ building form marks out the variety of performance halls and teaching spaces, while large windows on all sides of the ground level reveal the activity happening inside.
Since it opened in 2013, University Square Stratford has significantly improved higher education participation rates in East London. The building is both sustainable – winning a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating – and accessible.
University Square Stratford is truly transformational. It is already encouraging access into higher education and meeting the growing aspirations of the people of East London.
Championing an innovative and efficient way of sharing resources and facilities, the building offers flexible, state-of-the-art teaching, performance and administrative spaces, including two lecture theatres, three specialist performance studios, a student advice centre, an IT helpdesk, a café and a learning resource centre.
Concrete and timber are combined to give the interiors a robust but warm atmosphere.
