LSE embraces Passivhaus

Like several other Universities implementing sustainability strategies, the London School of Economics (LSE) has turned its attention to adopting Passivhaus. It recently selected design teams for two impressive London Passivhaus developments - from supersized student accommodation along the Thames to updating a World War II building into a net zero conference & teaching centre. Both the schemes are at very early stages, and we eagerly anticipate following their progress!

Bankside Residences

The LSE Bankside Residences project will be at the existing Bankside House student accommodation building behind the Tate Modern. The design team is fine-tuning designs to target Passivhaus certification, LETI standards, WELL Standard, and BREEAM Outstanding.

Project: 2000-bed student accommodation

Standard: Targeting Passivhaus certification, LETI, WELL, & BREEAM

Budget: £400m

Start date: 2026, Expected completion date: 2030

Client/ developer: LSE & Bouygues UK, Architects: Carmody Groarke and Sheppard Robson

LSE Bankside I Image © Filippo Bolognese Images

Firoz Lalji Global Hub, Holborn

The Central London design embraces a strategy of adaptive reuse that will see over 60% of an existing World War II structure & two principal façades retained, hoping to make it LSE’s first net zero carbon building. The new centre will include conference facilities, academic and teaching spaces, digital labs, and a 350-seat theatre. A lightweight timber structure extends the building by two stories, giving further prominence to the reimagined large civic palazzo on the Lincoln’s Inn Fields façade.

Project: New centre with conference & teaching facilities

Standard: Targeting EnerPHit certification, Carbon Net-Zero, BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum

Start date: 2023, Expected completion date: 2027

Client: LSE, Architects: David Chipperfield Architects with Feix and Merlin, Passivhaus consultant: Max Fordham, Sustainability consultants: BDP & Arup.