Arts and Sciences Common Room
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Arts and science common room for students at University College London
The new student common room replaces a former language laboratory and provides a new social study space for a unique degree course established by UCL which links Arts and Sciences subjects and allows students to choose major and minor pathways with core subjects.
The selected site was in a relatively prominent campus location within a Victorian building and our brief was to produce a design (which could be implemented over the Summer break) which reflected the historic nature of the University combined with the contemporary aspirations of the new degree course.
Our response revealed formerly hidden cast iron beams, created a new 'media wall' to the rear of the space and a combination of 'settings' for individual study, collaborative working and social space.
Material used include coloured 'writable glass', maple strip cladding to walls and a floating ceiling and a selection of contemporary furniture to create a bright, cheery and welcoming space.
Data
- Begun: Aug 2012
- Completed: Sep 2012
- Floor area: 120m2
- Sector: Education
- Total cost: £130,000
- Tender date: Jun 2012
- Procurement: GC/Works 1
- Address: University College London, Ground Floor, 1-4 Malet Place, London, WC1E 7JG, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Paul Murphy Architects
- Client: University College London
- Structural engineer: Carter Clack
- Main contractor: ITC Concepts
- Quantity surveyor: Potter Raper Partnership
Suppliers
- Joinery supplier: Pure Joinery
- Writable glass: Squiggleglass
- Carpets: Interface