From Dark Corridors to a Bright New Hub
The Project
For more than 40 years, the Plowden Building was a campus workhorse – useful, but tired. Today, it’s been transformed into a vibrant, light-filled hub where students and staff can study, connect, and feel part of the community.
The ground floor now opens into a triple-height atrium with a 24/7 lounge and café, a place designed to spark conversation and bring people together. Upstairs, new tech-enabled classrooms, group study areas, a wellbeing centre, and a careers hub give the community everything they need under one roof.
“BW were customer focused throughout, listening and responding to all queries we had during the 10 month project. The project was completed on time and within budget, and all this whilst the school continued to teach as normal in its adjacent buildings.”
Thoughtful touches make the difference: natural light flooding into spaces that once felt closed off, a colour palette chosen to support wellbeing (including neurodiverse needs), and energy-efficient systems to cut the building’s environmental impact.
We kept the campus community involved too. A digital totem in reception shared real-time updates, while branded messaging around campus kept students and staff engaged and part of the journey.
Not everything goes to plan, exposed services didn’t quite hit the mark for the client team but instead of slowing things down, we worked with the client to quickly reconfigure the design and deliver a cleaner look without compromise. That flexible, solutions-first approach kept the project moving and the deadline safe.
“The BW team responded to challenges with alternative solutions to create the beautiful spaces we have now. The quality of workmanship is excellent, and the project was completed defect free with minor snags dealt with within a day.”
The result?
A project delivered on time, on budget, and defect free. What was once a dark, dated building is now a bright, welcoming hub that supports modern teaching, everyday connection, and a stronger sense of community for London Business School.
“Working with BW was a pleasure, and I hope to have another opportunity to work with them again in the future.”
