Award-winning Danish architects schmidt hammer lassen have been appointed by the City of Westminster College to design their new Paddington Green headquarters. SHL's £90 million design was selected from
around 100 entries across Europe on the basis of its "sustainability, sensitivity to the surrounding urban environment and its inherent understanding of modern educational requirements."
At the heart of SHL's scheme is a central, dynamic inner atrium filled with natural light. This central galleried space will act as the new building's 'hub', a circulation and meeting space leading to adjacent areas providing
academic and practical teaching facilities, meeting rooms, administrative accommodation as well as some publicly accessible amenities, such as a theatre and café.
Situated in the heart of Westminster, the main campus is located on Paddington Green Park and close to the vibrant streets and transport links of the Edgware Road. SHL's new design will create a building that actively
engages with its surroundings - voids cut into the building's mass reinforcing the perception of a transparent, permeable and inherently civic building.
SHL partner Stephen David Willacy said "This is an extremely exciting opportunity for SHL, We intend to significantly enhance the experience of education for every student at CWC by creating a new building where
the design facilitates learning and promotes dialogue and dynamism."
For further information on schmidt hammer lassen please contact:
Robert Torday / Gemma Wood
T: 020 7247 8334
M: 07747 596 959 / 07751 187 175
E: Robert.torday@ing-media.com / gemma@ing-media.com
NOTES FOR EDITORS
schmidt hammer lassen
For more than 20 years the Danish architect practice schmidt hammer lassen has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading, award-winning architectural practices in Scandinavia.
schmidt hammer lassen also has a growing international presence, with a range of high-profile projects in Europe, China and the Middle East. The practice has a distinguished track record as designers of high-profile
cultural buildings, such as art galleries, educational complexes and libraries. Notable amongst these is the practice's acclaimed design for the Royal Danish Library which enjoys landmark status in the Danish capital.
schmidt hammer lassen recently won a prestigious international competition to design a new library complex for the University of Aberdeen.
schmidt hammer lassen's portfolio includes sports centres, corporate headquarters, large-scale retail and housing schemes as well as interior and product design.
New projects include Norway's largest technical college - the Thor Heyerdal school in Larvik, Amazone Court in Prague and an urban quarter for Chongqing, China.
For further information on City of Westminster College please contact:
Mary Prince
Director of Marketing and Business Partnerships
City of Westminster College
25 Paddington Green,
London W2 1NB
email: mary.prince@cwc.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7258 2769 (direct line)
Fax: 020 7258 2747
website: www.cwc.ac.uk
City of Westminster College
- City of Westminster College is a medium-sized further education college with five centres in central and west London - Paddington, Maida Vale, Queens Park, Marylebone and the Cockpit Theatre
- Offers over 300 full and part-time courses to around 8,000 students each year.
- Offers 28 subjects at A level and 7 subjects at Intensive A level
- Specialises in Digital Media, Science, Engineering, Sound Engineering & Music Technology
- Centre of Vocational Excellence in New Media Technology
- Diverse student population with over 45% of students speaking English as a second language
- Key partner in Westminster 6f Consortium, working with all secondary schools in Westminster
- Associate partner of University of Westminster and Middlesex University
- Offers Foundation degrees in Music Technology, Photography and Ophthalmic Science & Technology
- Discrete and extensive provision for Homeless
- Contracted by Westminster City Council to deliver 'Education Otherwise than in Schools' programme for excluded 14-16 year olds