RIBA Competitions recently announced that six teams have now been selected to take part in the design stage of the competition for King’s College London to redevelop the Quadrangle at the historic Strand Campus in London. The shortlisted teams include: Barozzi Veiga Studio, Carme Pinos Studio, Eric Parry Architects, Hall McKnight, Henley Halebrown Rorrison, and Zaha Hadid Architects. Ian Caldwell, Director of Estates & Facilities at King’s, said: ‘We are very pleased with the variety and high standard of submissions and look forward to the development of an innovative, landmark design that will enhance the surrounding historic architecture’. More information on the competition after the break.
Niall McLaughlin, RIBA Adviser said: “The competition attracted a large number of high quality entries. The client was keen to explore a diverse range of approaches to the commission and chose a list of practices which will ensure an interesting variety of responses in the next stage of the competition. The list includes younger and more established practices as well as a balance of local and international architects.”
The Strand campus at King’s College London provides teaching and social space for some 9,000 students and 1,500 staff. It has a particular focus on arts and sciences and is home to the College’s Schools of Arts & Humanities, Social Science & Public Policy, Natural & Mathematical Sciences, Dickson Poon School of Law and Global Institutes & Centres.
Over the next five years the College plans to add a further 2,600 students at this campus. The £20 million project to design and redevelop the Quad, including the buildings below it and the immediate surroundings will provide an additional 3,700 square metres of teaching and student social space.
The Quad lies between the Grade I listed King’s Building designed by Sir Robert Smirke, also architect of the British Museum, and the Somerset House East Wing designed by Sir William Chambers. The new Strand Quad will be highly distinctive and engaging, while competing sympathetically with the College’s neighbor to the West, Somerset House.
It is anticipated that the space will form a bridge between the King’s Building and Somerset House East Wing by regenerating the deck and lower floors of the Quadrangle area, transforming an underused subterranean area into an innovative, light, flexible space for students suitable for both formal and informal study.
The teams will be given until mid August to work on their design submissions with final interviews held at the beginning of September.
