Client:
Imperial

Location:
South Kensington

Project value:
circa £30 million

Our role:

We project managed the RIBA 1 Feasibility Stage of this exciting laboratory transformation project for the UK’s top ranked university. CHEM2401 modernises the undergraduate teaching facilities, mainly laboratory based, on the lower levels of the Chemistry Building on the South Kensington campus.

The key objective was to:

• reconfigure the existing layouts on Levels 1 and 3 to suit the teaching activities and utilise spaces to accommodate 168 students and 96 fume cupboards for the Synthesis labs on level 1 and 215 students 17 fume cupboards for the Physical labs on Level 3;
• provide new facilities to incorporate advanced AV systems for students to train in a technology enhanced environment;
• incorporate new layouts to provide a positive teaching environment by admitting natural light, improving sight lines and making effective use of circulation and storage;
• improve accessibility within the building e.g. with height adjustable benching, new escape wheelchair refuges at the stairway linking to the adjacent Sir Ernst Chain Building and introducing accessible WCs at Level 3;
• ensure teaching programmes are seamlessly maintained throughout the construction period.

Key Achievements:

• 100% adherence to RIBA 1 delivery timescales, giving reassurance to project sponsors and governance process
• Significant praise received from end-users regarding the extent of consultation, user engagement, and resulting adherence to the brief
• Careful programming of the works to maintain academic teaching throughout the intended construction period
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