Residence at One Pool Street, situated near UCL East
The One Pool Street building, designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS), is a standout addition to UCL's new East campus in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This distinctive structure offers a unique blend of student accommodation, learning spaces, and public amenities, creating a vibrant, engaged community in the heart of east London.
The building, spanning 26,000m2, is a hybrid program of mixed uses. It houses research labs, academic workspaces, a cinema, café, shop, and a public-facing atrium, all under one roof. This fusion of learning and civic interaction breaks down traditional boundaries, fostering a fluid connection between private and public life.
The architectural composition of One Pool Street is striking. A three-storey podium dedicated to interdisciplinary teaching and public spaces forms the base, with two towers of student accommodation rising to 13 and 17 storeys respectively. This vertical layering efficiently uses a tight urban footprint while creating a notable campus gateway.
The building's exterior is adorned with precast concrete panels in a palette of whites and greys, with textures that alternate between smooth and rough. This tactile variety and visual rhythm add a sophisticated touch to the building's envelope.
One Pool Street's design prioritises spatial fluidity and inclusivity. LDS director Douglas Inglis describes the intention as creating a "fluid zone" that blurs the edges of what's private and what's public, reflecting a commitment to an exploratory, inclusive, and world-aware environment.
Positioned on the southern edge of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, opposite iconic landmarks like the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the London Aquatics Centre, One Pool Street establishes a confident and visible presence within London’s growing cultural and educational district. The wider East Bank initiative also includes institutions such as the V&A Storehouse and Sadler’s Wells East.
Inside, the building invites people from east London to collaborate with UCL, exploring topics ranging from robotics and AI to disability and sustainability. The top-lit atrium serves as a public foyer and performance space, hosting exhibitions, lectures, and impromptu demonstrations.
The student rooms in One Pool Street are clustered in small flats of 8 to 11 bedrooms, prioritising communal living. The rooms themselves are compact but comfortable, with en-suites and large windows offering expansive views. All windows are fully openable, a departure from restrictive norms in student housing.
The building also features communal terraces and rooftop gardens with views of the Olympic Park. A landscaped roof terrace provides recreational space and serves as an outdoor laboratory, part of UCL's People and Nature Lab.
One Pool Street is designed for longevity, with adaptable interiors that allow for shifts in student demographics and academic needs. It accommodates schools and centers focusing on robotics, sustainable cities, health, and culture, including The Bartlett, the School for Creative and Cultural Industries, and the UCL Robotics and Autonomous Systems hub.
The building has received BREEAM Excellent and Outstanding ratings for its residential and academic areas, due to green roofs and extensive biodiversity measures. Rooms in the building can be reconfigured for postgraduate use or visiting scholars, a feature that aligns with Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands' aim of delivering "hard-working" architecture.
In summary, One Pool Street's design is notable for its integration of living and learning under one roof, its dynamic, textured façade, and its architectural response to fostering community and interaction in a landmark urban setting. It marks a new approach for UCL’s campus in East London, emphasising flexibility, public engagement, and a contemporary university experience.
The building, designed to facilitate a contemporary university experience, hosts a wide range of facilities, including research labs, academic workspaces, a cinema, café, shop, and a public-facing atrium, providing opportunities for education and self-development as well as promoting health and culture. Situated in the heart of east London's growing cultural and educational district, the vibrant community of One Pool Street will engage with east Londoners, inviting them to collaborate on various topics, such as robotics, AI, disability, sustainability, and cultural studies.
