LSE Marshall Building

Forward thinking AV design for The Marshall Building helps create iconic addition to the London School of Economics and Political Science London Campus.

Technologies

AV Design to RIBA stage 4 for digital signage, multidirectional screens, mixing desks, ceiling speakers and microphones.

The Client

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is one of the foremost social science universities in the world, ranking third globally in the QS subject rankings. LSE is unique in its dedication to the social sciences with a worldwide community of people and roots in the heart of central London.

The Team

Mace, Grafton Architects, Chapman BDSP, Gardiner & Theobold, 3PM, proAV

LSE has been working to reform its Central London campus to develop a new university quarter showcasing its status as a world-class academic institution. Having purchased the 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields site, the University made the decision to develop a new statement location in its London Campus – to be named The Marshall Building.

The Marshall Building would be custom designed to create an exceptional experience for students and academics – housing the Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship; as well as the academic departments of accounting, finance and management; plus teaching and sports facilities for the Students’ Union. Cordless was engaged to provide AV Design Consultancy for this prestigious and ambitious project.

Photo credit: LSE

As the vision formed to create a striking multi-purpose space, Cordless worked alongside the client and project team to create innovate AV and multimedia designs for modern, hybrid teaching and learning that would link the building to the wider campus.

With ten upper floors and two basement levels, the Marshall Building is based on a complex structural solution with large concrete trees and branches that form a high vaulted ceiling. Three entrances provide access to an impressive great hall – with open plan space for students, visitors and staff to meet and socialise.

A striking central staircase connects the ground floor to the teaching spaces on the first and second floor. The concrete ceiling design was a big factor in the technology design. It was important that no cabling was seen, meaning the co-ordination of the IT infrastructure location had to be completed with high accuracy and attention to detail from the floors above.

The AV technology design included multidirectional digital displays, ceiling microphone technology for audience capture, positioning for mixing desks and digital signage for a range of spaces including a large auditorium, wraparound lecture theatres, a range of seminar and collaborative meeting rooms, and a Café.

Photo credit: proAV

LSE has now created an uplifting, inspirational space with digital multimedia technologies to support a great user experience as people move around the building – as well as new ways of lecturing and hybrid learning.
The building also holds a BREEAM Excellent in design rating through enhanced building performance.