LSBU & South Bank Colleges, Blocks B, Nine Elms, Vauxhall, London

The proposal for Block B, the second of three buildings on the campus, has been carefully developed in line with the consented outline masterplan, design code, and the client’s updated brief. It also incorporates valuable lessons learned from Block A, the College's STEAM building.

While adhering to the height, mass, form, and area parameters, the design has evolved with adjustments to the layout to address neighbourhood concerns and minimise potential construction-related over-sailing. Additionally, the gross internal area has been reduced from 7,940 SqM to 6,909 SqM.

Block B is the main gateway building into the campus containing a range of learning spaces for Health Science, Sports, Early Years, Care, Blue Light and other public services, as well as café, Learning resource spaces, pastoral support and break-out zones. The building also includes a Sport England 3 badminton court sports Hall at Level 8.

The façade design has evolved with the lower two storeys forming a 'plinth' featuring double-height fenestrations and a prominent entrance, articulated through masonry columns and walls. The upper floors retain key design elements but incorporate a 3D façade screen on the southern elevation, adding visual depth and distinction.

While drawing inspiration from Block A, Block B sets itself apart with the use of darker grey brick on the lower floors and anodised bronze aluminium cladding. Glazed elements enliven both the entrance and the ground floor, while a faceted façade plan, complemented by crisp-edged punched windows, creates a dynamic extruded form. This design achieves visual coherence with Block A while establishing a distinct identity for Block B within the campus.

The façade design follows the campus Design Code, featuring an active frontage and a visually distinctive base. The entrance, on Belmore Street, is framed by a crafted composition of masonry columns, glazed openings and the distinctive aluminium clad faceted walls. Above the entrance a faceted 3-dimensional solar screen or brise solei extends first to eight floors to reduce solar gain within the teaching spaces and enhancing the learning environment during the summer months. At level 1 and 2 and horizontal extruded ‘slot’ pushes through the solar screen framing a terrace and windows serving the Social Space within. The ‘slot’ adds interest to the façade while enhancing wayfinding inside and out and signalling the main entrance below. The west elevation, facing the main entrance of Block A, integrates materiality and detailing from Block A, linking the two buildings through a cohesive design. Glazing introduces daylight into internal corridors and extruded window frames to the south east corner push through the solar screen mirroring Block A’s design elements.

Early iterations of the evolving design were presented to the Council and their team as part of the Pre-Application process. This early collaboration and feedback enabled the design team to implement several adjustments, early on:

Modifications to the boundary relationships of the lower floors.
An enhanced entrance design featuring double and triple-height spaces that improve natural daylight and intuitive way-finding, complemented by a prominent staircase connecting the 1st and 2nd-floor social learning and café areas.
Technical enhancements for solar shading, including the addition of horizontal louvres.
Further design references to Block A’s chamfered chevron form to aid intuitive wayfinding and establish visual links between the buildings.
Improved façade articulation with punched extruded windows that distinctly separate social spaces from non-teaching areas, supported by a louvered screen.

The plan strategy has organised the internal layout around functional efficiency and high-quality learning environments, designed to adapt to future curriculum changes. The planning grid optimises both natural daylight and ventilation, enhancing the educational experience. Building cores are streamlined for maximum efficiency, while corridors, illuminated with natural light and featuring outward views, promote well-being and ease of navigation.

The ground floor is designed with an active frontage, placing the entrance, reception, and enrolment areas prominently to engage with the street. Overlooking the entrance, the café and recreation area create a vibrant atmosphere. A feature staircase connects the ground floor to multi-use and learning resource spaces on upper levels, clearly demarcating zones for public and student access.

The section strategy organises the location of spaces up the building. The lower floors, including the entrance and Learning Resource Centre (LRC), feature double-height voids to optimize natural daylight and enhance visual connectivity between interior and exterior spaces. Upper floors are organized around a central corridor, efficiently serving classrooms on both sides, maximizing space utilization and improving circulation.

In developing the design, the current building envelope has been adapted from the original ‘jelly-mould’ shape to meet the Department for Education (DfE) standards. The depth of the building aligns with DfE teaching space requirements and corridor widths.

The landscape strategy is a continuation of the distinctive design set out within the masterplan and started around Block A. As part of the sustainable transport strategy, an additional 128 cycle parking spaces have been incorporated, 48 short-stay, near the entrance, and 80 long-stay, in covered storage to the rear.