The Social Space, Pumphandle, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

LSHTM CMP draft 4 August 2013 1929 2.jpg

Context and historic images

The recently completed ‘Pumphandle Social’ project provides a new student and staff hub in the heart of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s campus in Bloomsbury and is the second major project for Rock Townsend on LSHTM’s consultancy framework.

The retrofit refurbishment and transformation of 1200m2 of former restaurant/ café space in the Lower Ground Floor of their Grade II listed Keppel Street campus provides a much-needed new social heart to the predominantly research-focused campus, delivering a wide variety of flexible catering, social and informal learning spaces. The concept was based on the theory of ‘third spaces’ which encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The core brief requirement was to provide a place to ‘encourage staff and students to want to return to the building post pandemic in order to more fully engage with the LSHTM community’ J. Starmer, LSHTM Director of Estates, 2022.

In addition the following key project objectives were established:

Intuitive wayfinding
Connection to the outside / nature
Future proofing
High quality space
Low carbon
Best spend
Flexibility
Minimise campus disruption
Works well & feels good

‘BIG Steps’

Flexibility

The design strategy was focused on promoting community through a significantly improved catering offer along with a range of versatile breakout and study areas, communal spaces, and environments designed for flexible working, informal meetings, team collaborations, and individual work. It was imperative that these different activities and events could occur simultaneously, accomplished by creating a variety of unique spaces, the incorporation of movable glazed partitions allowing the spaces to flex for larger events, and the careful design of acoustics.

Adding value: BIG Steps

As the design and engagement evolved it became apparent there was also an opportunity to reinvent the former ‘sterile’ courtyard into a larger central space for town hall meetings, lectures and events. This was achieved by replacing a classroom which was blocking the space with a series of ‘BIG Steps’, which not only improve intuitive way-finding down into the previously hidden atrium space, but also serve as a casual social hub for students and staff, doubling as a venue for formal and informal lectures, talks, and presentations. The ‘BIG Steps’ act as the ‘beating heart’, a new vibrant focal point for the campus and establish a key connection between the ground and lower-ground floor.

A Place to Enjoy

Central to the design ethos was the need to provide a more uplifting and inspirational environment than the previous dark, tired and hard to find subterranean space in order to attract and retain the staff and students beyond the traditional lunch-time slot.

This has been achieved through a number of initiatives including:

the removal of existing ceilings to achieve more volume and natural light
the opening up the ‘BIG Steps’ area to improve intuitive circulation and increase visibility and connection with nature
the provision of more effective controllable lighting and enhanced acoustics
the deployment of a subtle palette of timber and recycled materials
the introduction of planting and biophilia, and
a variety of fixed and loose furniture options.

Acoustic strategy and client DNA

A carefully designed acoustic strategy was required to allow the busy and noisy catering provision and activities to occur immediately adjacent to the more intimate student social and break-out informal working zones. The central space required particular attention due to its hard surfaces and high reverberation, and its requirement to be able to be able to host a range of small gatherings, events and lectures. The strategy included the ‘wrapping’ of existing kitchen services ductwork in acoustic cladding, with its design inspired by an abstracted insect wing - a subtle reference to LSHTM’s world-class renowned research into malaria.

Central Space and Insect Wing Cladding

Insect Wing Cladding Development Studies

Rock Townsend collaborated closely with the design, client team and University stakeholders to ensure that the proposal achieves the best outcome for students and staff by providing highly functional space that works well and a social space that feels good.

Materials and Sustainability

Emphasis was placed on retaining the optimum amount of existing materials and structure and reducing unnecessary waste in line with our approach to retrofit being an increasingly important part of achieving net-zero target.

Rock Townsend undertook an embodied carbon assessment to determine the most effective approaches to reducing the project’s carbon impact. The project predicted an Embodied Carbon rating of 153kgCO2/m2, achieving the 2040 targets of the UK-NZCBS.

Materials were selected to enhance sustainable outcomes, ranging from the use of biophilic finishes to furniture made from demolished brick. The sustainable sourcing of materials, helped the design achieve a SKA Silver rating.

All new energy efficient services replaced expired systems, reducing long term operational energy demand.

Natural daylight from existing and new sources was prioritised over artificial lighting, reducing energy demand and providing significant wellbeing benefits.