Information Teaching Lab for Queen Mary University of London

We were enlisted to extend and refurbish the ITL (Informatics and Technology Learning) building at Queen Mary University of London, one of the UK’s leading research-focused higher education institutions.

With a vibrant community of over 32,000 students and 4,500 staff, the university is investing in state-of-the-art facilities to enhance its computer science education offerings. This exciting project reflects the university’s commitment to sustainable design, innovation, and enhancing the student experience.

What our scope involved

Our work included retaining much of the existing structure whilst replacing the façade of the building, which worked to significantly improve its sustainable performance. We also created a new circulation core and added two additional floors, which resulted in 160 new workspaces for students to support a range of activities, including coursework, group projects, and extracurricular experiments.

The additional two storeys go above the original building and provide 2,760 square metres of space, along with a five-storey addition to the east for better circulation. This has increased student capacity from 260 to 450, meeting a growing demand for informatics teaching.

Sustainable retrofit

The retrofit of this 1989 building saw the existing concrete frame retained to reflect the building's existing embodied carbon, along the north and south external walls. Preventing the need for new foundations, the additional storeys were constructed from a hybrid steel and timber structure which was selected for its lightness in weight, low carbon cost and future adaptability.

Windows were also enlarged and replaced with high-performing thermal glazing, and the new extension was fabricated from an aluminium-framed curtain wall glazing and rainscreen cladding.

Richard Poulter, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon’s South region added:

“We are proud to have supported QMUL in their bid to deliver infrastructure improvement that supports functionality and sustainability, a value shared by Willmott Dixon. This new centre of excellence not only provides the University with 150 additional spaces to accommodate the growing demand for the subject, but we also made sure to update aspects during this build that ensured increased energy efficiency and thermal performance of the building.”

Structural work

Alongside structural changes, we replaced all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems with modern, sustainable solutions to improve energy and water efficiency. This aligns with Queen Mary’s 2030 strategy, focusing on infrastructure investments that prioritise both functionality and sustainability.

Professor Colin Bailey CBE, President and Principal of Queen Mary said:

“I am delighted to see this new informatics teaching laboratory open to students. The redevelopment of this space, alongside other significant investments in our estate, demonstrate Queen Mary’s commitment to providing students and staff with innovative, inclusive, sustainable environments in which to learn and educate, and exemplify our 2030 Strategy vision of opening the doors of opportunity to anyone with the potential to succeed.”