THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE PLANS FOR BIG FUTURE AFTER HQ MOVE

The London School of Architecture has moved to a new headquarters as part of its ambitious expansion plans.

It aims to use its new home to expand the ways it can deliver teaching, foster collaboration, and showcase student work.

Located at 6 Orsman Road - an exemplar sustainable building in the heart of Hackney’s creative scene in Haggerston - the school’s new headquarters will host lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, charrettes, exhibitions, roundtables, podcasting and filming.

6 Orsman Road is a flexible workspace building from British Land’s Storey and will provide the school with a bespoke fitted-out 4,000 sq ft space, as well as access to communal facilities that include theatre-style event space, a rooftop terrace and lounge and café breakout spaces.

The school’s private workspace is built around Storey’s unique modular design that allows the layout of its space and rooms to be quickly reconfigured to adapt to changing needs.

Neal Shasore, CEO of the London School of Architecture, said: “We’re really excited to make our new home at 6 Orsman which significantly enhances the quality of our offering to students. It will allow us to increase the number of ways we can teach and interact with them – in person and virtually - by using our workspace and the building’s shared amenities. There are huge benefits to being located in the heart of one of London's most thriving creative districts in Hackney.

“The adaptability and flexibility provided by Storey means that we can grow with this space at a pace that suits us. We have ambitious plans for expansion over the next five to 10 years and so having the right infrastructure in place to support these is critical.

“And of course, as architects, being based in such a well-designed and forward-thinking building, with sustainability and environmental performance at its core, makes it feel like a natural home for us too.”

James Lowery, Head of Storey, added: “We’re excited to welcome the LSA to 6 Orsman Road and help them on the next phase of their growth. The area has a rich creative cluster and is becoming an important focal point for design-led innovation in London.

“Their requirement is a great example of the broadening attraction of flexible workspace post-pandemic.

There has rarely been greater demand for flexible workspace that’s adaptable, personalised and helps organisations to achieve the things they can’t do remotely.” 

Local architect practice Waugh Thistleton Architects designed 6 Orsman and its state-of-the-art cross-laminated timber (CLT) frame, which significantly reduced the carbon intensity of its construction and the amount of embodied CO2 in the building.

Located on the banks of the Regents Canal, 6 Orsman is powered by a solar photovoltaic installation and its bio-diverse roof terrace, designed by landscaper FFO, features insect boxes, edible plants, and fruit trees.

Biophilic design runs through the building with the use of timber and other natural materials paired with natural lighting and air purifying plants.

Storey worked with leading acousticians Sandy Brown to leverage 6 Orsman’s timber surfaces and panels to create different acoustic spaces, including sound absorbing quiet areas for focussed work and more bustling, busier areas for collaboration.

Storey has partnered with the Shoreditch Trust's social enterprise Waterhouse Restaurant, which provides training to 16–25-year-olds facing difficult circumstances, to operate 6 Orsman’s café.