January 2018
The consent progresses the modernisation of the University of London's IALS at Lasdun's Institute of Education & Law.
The proposals involve sensitive updates to the Grade II* Charles Clore House, designed by the late Sir Deny Lasdun. Located on Russell Square, the scheme proposes a comprehensive refurbishment of the library facilities whilst also improving current accessibility, security, and environmental performance of this iconic brutalist building.
Modernisation of the building has been carefully considered within the framework created by the existing building's striking form. Accumulated fixtures and fittings will be removed to showcase the original exposed concrete finishes while the reorganisation of the work and academic research spaces will assist the Institute in raising its profile as a world class facility.
A new external accessible lift is proposed adjacent to the main entrance. This has been designed to reference the existing building, replicating the palette of materials whilst providing increased street presence for the institute. Prepared alongside Alan Baxter Associates and Indigo Planning following close consultation with Historic England, the project is currently out to tender with works due to start on site this summer.
The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, part of the School of Advanced Study of the University of London, is a postgraduate research institute with an international reputation as a national centre of excellence and houses one of the finest legal research libraries in the world. The Institute was established in Bloomsbury in 1947 as a national and international centre for the promotion of advanced legal studies and moved to its purpose-built home in 1976. The Institute is delighted by the opportunity to restore its iconic home for legal research to the state-of-the-art facility for which it was designed.
