UCL Student Common Room /New Hall

New Hall is a newly completed 350 bed hall of residence with an area allocated adjacent to the main entrance at ground floor level identified as the location for the Student Hub.

The brief was to fit out the shell space created under the main building contract and provide a vibrant new space to allow students to socialise and study. Moving away from the traditional, unloved common room, the architect sought to create a series of both formal and informal spaces which could offer the students the choice of either sitting separately or in groups, therefore promoting either individual or group work. In addition, a separate quiet area is screened off by a full height glass partition; within which “hot desks” are lined against a perimeter wall and plectrum shaped desks facilitate group working.

Furniture has been carefully selected to support the range of activities and a large format rubber floor tile has been used to create a random, urban scale to the space.