LCF celebrates 'Topping Out' new building in the heart of East London
- Written byLondon College of Fashion
- Published date 24 September 2021
On Thursday 23 September 2021, LCF celebrated the completion and topping out of the shell of its incredible new building in the heart of East London. ‘Topping out’ at 85.5 metres, making it the UK’s tallest Higher Education building, the new campus will bring all six of LCF’s current sites together for the first time in its history.
Due to open to students and staff in autumn 2023, LCF’s new 30,000 square metres campus, designed by architects Allies and Morrison and constructed by Mace, will be part of East Bank, one of the world’s largest and most ambitious culture and education districts. Located on the Stratford Waterfront in The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, East Bank will be a powerhouse for innovation, creativity and learning. LCF’s new neighbours will include V&A, BBC, Sadler’s Wells and UCL and the project is central to the long-term legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
To mark the occasion, a selection of beautifully stitched banners were unfurled by the participants of LCF's Making for Change after a short speech by President and Vice-Chancellor of UAL, James Purnell. The banners have been designed and made by women from the local Tower Hamlets and wider communities, current LCF students and emerging designers from East London. The banners represent values of inclusivity, collaboration and authenticity alongside the themes of sustainability, community, and accessible education for all. They encapsulate the heart of LCF’s community and represent LCF's ethos of shaping lives through fashion.
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President and Vice Chancellor of UAL James Purnell - © Ana Blumenkron
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James Purnell, stands with participants of Making for Change - © Ana Blumenkron
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Making for change participants- © Ana Blumenkron
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President and Vice Chancellor of UAL James Purnell, and Head of College and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Roni Brown, stand alongside partners MACE, Allies and Morrison, LLDC, The Portal Trust and the Mayor of Waltham Forrest, Elizabeth Baptiste. - © Ana Blumenkron
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President and Vice Chancellor of UAL James Purnell, and Head of College and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Roni Brown, stand with the Mayor of Waltham Forrest, Councillor Elizabeth Baptiste, as well as members of the participants of Making for Change - © Ana Blumenkron
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LCF Topping Out 2021
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The Mayor of Waltham Forrest, Councillor Elizabeth Baptiste. - © Ana Blumenkron
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LCF Topping Out 2021
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President and Vice Chancellor of UAL James Purnell and the Mayor of Waltham Forrest, Councillor Elizabeth Baptiste.- © Ana Blumenkron
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President and Vice Chancellor of UAL James Purnell. - © Ana Blumenkron
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Participants of Making for Change – London College of Fashion - © Ana Blumenkron
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A participant of Making for Change - © Ana Blumenkron
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LCF Topping Out - Chocolate designed by BRIK London to replicate the building exterior. © Ana Blumenkron
A beautiful building both inside and out, three floors of the new LCF campus will be open to the public with a café, gallery, world class archive, social learning environments, social enterprise space, and a maker’s square that will host public talks and workshops. Throughout the design and construction, LCF has placed sustainability as one of its key goals for the building.
“Mace is delighted to celebrate this major milestone with London College of Fashion, UAL, in the delivery of Stratford Waterfront, a cultural and educational landmark, not just for London, but for the UK as a whole. As the LLDC’s project management partner and the principal contractor on Stratford Waterfront, Mace is proud to continue to build on the fantastic legacy of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through the provision of a new state-of-art campus for London College of Fashion, UAL. This new building will provide students with facilities which will encourage collaboration and inspire innovation for a host of new designers and creatives who will continue to make London one of the world’s top fashion capitals.” Jason Millett, Mace’s Chief Executive Officer for Consultancy
The ceremony also recognised the vital support of donors such as The Portal Trust who have provided LCF with a significant grant of £4 million towards the new campus and LCFs social responsibility activities, which include the Making for Change programme.
"On behalf of all at The Portal Trust, we are honoured to witness this significant milestone in London College of Fashion’s history. Having worked closely with the College for over a decade now, we are delighted to support this outstanding new development which will benefit so many young people in east London and beyond." - Richard Foley, Chief Executive of The Portal Trust.