Education, Whitechapel

BRIEF: Situated within the Garrod Building, the home of Queen Mary University, this space was originally used as a computer classroom. Ceiling heights were challenging and the space felt dark and uninspiring. Barts and The London Students’ Association (BLSA) were allocated this space for a new SU bar and cafe, as part of a move to bring the BLSA back into the building.

Consultations between the University’s senior leadership and BLSA was key to unpicking how the space needed to work. This included a bar area that offered a daytime / nighttime shift, which featured flexible lighting controls, a dancefloor and a DJ booth. We created a variety of settings with flexible furniture that catered for all uses, with the ultimate aim of making it a space they can be proud of and that reflected the needs of a younger and vibrant audience. Finishes needed to be robust, to deal with the demands during events, such as sports night or freshers week.

This was a fantastic brief and we thoroughly enjoyed creating a new home for BLSA.

SIZE: 3,500 sq ft