The learning Platform, Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster
The Marylebone Project has revitalized the University of Westminster’s central London campus, creating a modern, vibrant, and flexible learning environment. This transformation is home to the Westminster Business School (WBS) and the School of Architecture and the Built Environment (SABE). The masterplan focused on refurbishing and uniting the existing campus buildings around a newly developed social learning hub, known as the 'Learning Platform.'
It has been essential to breathe new life into the Marylebone site and create a better sense of identity. This project does that by creating a real heart to the campus.
- Trevor Wills, Director of Estate
Spanning 1,200 square meters, the Learning Platform is a dynamic space designed for formal and informal learning, fostering a shift from a "learn-and-go" culture to one of "learn, stay, socialise, and share," in line with the University’s vision of a collaborative environment.
Stage 1 consolidated WBS, adding 12 seminar rooms, academic and administrative offices, increasing campus flexibility, and preparing for the more expansive Stage 2. Stage 2 transformed the ground floor into the Learning Platform, featuring new learning spaces, a lecture theatre, libraries, a bookshop, refectory, and café. Additional improvements included new offices, a replacement roof, upgraded glazing, better toilet facilities, lift cores, and refurbished fifth and sixth-floor 'super studios.'
The refurbished canopy, entrance steps, and ramp signal internal changes, while the reception area has been transformed into a vibrant, welcoming space with enhanced capacity, accessibility, and security. The reception now connects directly to WBS and SABE for public functions, with main access leading to the 'social learning' zone, the campus hub. From there, facilities are designed to be visible, legible, and accessible, channeling movement along the 'street' through informal spaces toward different departments.
A former bridge, now integrated into the social learning space, is clad with timber slats to aid north-south navigation, leading visitors to the refectory. The 'blade' along the east-west axis brings natural light and ventilation to 'the street' and adjoining spaces, guiding visitors to both schools.
A simple material palette and the combination of natural and artificial lighting define elements within the open-plan social learning space. Glass screens with views to the street and landmark furniture further enhance orientation and navigation.
The 'Learning Platform' concept was designed to create a social hub on campus, fostering a strong sense of community where ideas are freely exchanged between students, staff, and academics. The goal was to establish a place of belonging—one where people want to be. Central to this vision was prioritizing the student, staff, and academic experience, while ensuring the campus remains adaptable to future changes in education.
The refectory plays a pivotal role in the 'Learning Platform,' offering a diverse range of refreshments, from coffee and pastries to full, healthy meals. As a cornerstone of the social learning environment, it encourages students and staff to stay on campus between lectures and seminars, fostering a stronger sense of community and promoting interaction.
Designed with clean lines, durable materials, subtle color accents, and ample natural light, the space aligns with the university’s health-focused agenda. Initiatives like the 'Breakfast Club,' early opening hours, and discounts further encourage a 24/7 campus culture, offering students a healthy start to their day, which positively impacts academic performance.
Seminar and Post Graduate Space. The strategy was to remove layers of tired and neglected finishes implemented over the years, expose the original fabric, regain the big volumes and compliment the original features such as the parquet floor and concrete finishes with new fresh interventions.
Dark uninspiring classrooms have been transformed into state-of-the art learning spaces with integrated audio-visual IT systems for lecturer and students complimented by improved daylighting, ventilation and acoustic attenuation. Exposed concrete soffits contrast with glazed screens that use super-graphic to ensures sufficient privacy for users and minimises ‘distraction’ between spaces.
Forming a key feature of the WBS, the post-graduate suite is independent of yet adjacent to the Learning Platform. Fronting Marylebone Road the suite is a flexible space available for high profile lectures as well as third leg income when not in core academic use.
Libraries and Book Shop. The library spaces perform a critical role in the Learning Platform. The first floor library has been refurbished and extended down into the ground floor. With new lighting, improved ventilation, acoustic attenuation and creative furniture solutions, the new library is a calm yet vibrant environment with an increased capacity.
The library reception has been brought down to the ground floor to increase library space at the upper level and to foster greater connectivity with the social learning space. Located on ‘the hill’, the prominent library entrance is also next to the bookshop creating a dynamic between the two.
The bookshop is an integral piece of the Learning Platform jigsaw, providing a direct service to the students. It is located on the main route into the two principle lecture theatres and opposite the café to capture the footfall and potential clientele. The book shop is designed to be a highly visible and vibrant place with a full-height glazed shop front to allow greater exposure of its offer.
Multi-use rooms and lecture theatre. Through the re-organisation of activities within the campus, teaching spaces have been moved to the front of the site becoming the ‘shop window’ on Marylebone Road. This increased presence serves to increase awareness of the university activities as well as the status of the institution.
The layout of the spaces is such that it can operate in a cellular arrangement or be opened up to the social learning space. Integrated storage solutions, built in kitchenettes, quality finishes and vibrant furniture all project a professional atmosphere to the users and passers-by. Lecturers now need to perform not only for their immediate audience but also the public outside.
The new lecture theatre is modelled on the innovative ‘in the round’ Harvard style lecture theatre. The curved nature and gentle rake seating generates a more engaging atmosphere. Here lecturers can interact with their students with the support of fully-integrated IT facilities, resulting in a showcase space for the University.
The vibrant and quality choice of colour and materials continues that professional feel that contributes further to the university’s diversification and source of ‘third leg’ income from third parties wanting to rent the space.
Circulation, Break-out Spaces, Kitchenettes & Toilets. Adjacent informal break-out spaces complement the multi-use lecture and seminar rooms, encouraging students to gather, share ideas, and socialize on campus beyond lectures. Subtle changes in furniture, lighting, and flooring create a relaxed atmosphere. Kitchenettes for staff enhance convenience, while optimizing academic space has reduced office areas in line with current standards. Vibrant, strategically located toilets improve the campus experience. Circulation spaces benefit from enhanced lighting, decor, and graphics, aiding navigation through 'character' areas. The introduction of glazing in central corridors brings natural light to formerly dark spaces, significantly improving the overall environment.
Description: Refurbishment and new-build to Marylebone Campus
Client: University of Westminster
Contractor: Vinci Construction UK Limited
Area: 10,660 SqM
Value: £20m
Status: completed 2012
RT Team: Mark Gabbey
