Wimbledon College of Art
- Client: University of Arts London
- Architect: Levitt Bernstein
- Contacts: Oliver Coleman
- LPA: London Borough of Merton
University of the Arts London has made a comprehensive multi-million pound investment programme to modernise their Wimbledon campus to reflect its status as a world leading higher-education provider. They have modernised the teaching space and addressed multiple existing environmental issues as well as providing a more soft-landscaped, and outward facing public realm; whilst considering the Merton Hall Road Conservation Area.
Externally, the upgrades enhanced items such as windows, with new, more efficient metal framed double glazed units; as well as aesthetic improvements such as painting of brickwork and services in order to visually tie together the various buildings and to create a much more outward facing and inviting campus. Internally, studios, workshops, teaching spaces, entrances, the library, and theatre have been refurbished.
The new landscaping is balanced between providing harder, yet permeable, surfaces to accommodate the volume of pedestrian traffic flows, whilst providing the softer surfaces for public break-out areas, improved site drainage, tree route protection and biodiversity enhancements. To link the design of the Theatre Annex Building and the forecourt, the soft landscaping follows the profile of the new gabled roof.
The campus is now outward facing and inviting, providing a positive contribution to the conservation area. Barriers such as fences, walls and gates have been removed to improve accessibility.
The results of this redevelopment have improved the overall appearance and impression of the University and has enabled UAL to create an integrated performance environment and to facilitate more collaboration between design, acting, technical arts and performance courses and build a stronger student community. The works have also enabled wider general public access to space, reduced car parking provision, increased the quantity of soft landscaping and reduced localised surface water flooding.
Rolfe Judd acted throughout the planning process; from pre-application, planning application and delivery stages. We also undertook consultation meetings with the local community and interest groups as well as statutory bodies such as the Metropolitan Police.
