Linus ReesThe University of Westminster has announced that it wants to redevelop part of its Cavendish Block to create a new student experience centre, and is holding an initial public consultation on the designs.
Cavendish Block is situated in Fitzrovia West and is bounded by New Cavendish Street, Hanson Street, Clipstone Street and Cleveland Street.
It consists of three large buildings linked at ground floor level, containing various educational departments and working spaces, including the library serving the University’s campus.
A fourth building, the presently closed Tower Tavern, is also part of the block which the University is “currently exploring options” for its future but is saying very little about it at the moment.
In this month’s announcement the University says it has “ideas for the future of our Cavendish block” and as part of this intends to turn Latimer House “into a new Student Hub facility, bringing together student support services and learning spaces under one roof”.
Latimer House was built in 1938 as a dormitory for boys learning trades in the area. Photo: Fitzrovia News.Latimer House, which fronts on to Hanson Street, is currently empty. The NHS vacated the site several years ago, and it was recently occupied by squatters.
The brick building with steel-framed windows was originally constructed in 1938 to designs by Seth-Smith, Monro & Matthew as a dormitory for boys learning trades in the area.
It is the last of the buildings on the Cavendish Block remaining from before the University acquired the site in the 1960s. All the other buildings on the block were redeveloped in the 1960s, with the Copland Building on the corner of Clipstone Street and Hanson Street replacing the former early and later 20th century commercial buildings in 2005.
The fate of the somewhat austere but otherwise handsome Latimer House now lies in the hands of the University which plans to demolish it because it says it has a “poor quality facade that is in need of updating to ensure it can continue to positively contribute to the surrounding area”.
Initial proposal for Latimer House on Hanson Street, as viewed from Clipstone Street looking south. Image. University of Westminster.“The Student Hub will create a ‘one-stop shop’ for students already on campus under one roof to study, learn, and relax,” says the University.
According to the publicity materials for the new design, the significantly taller building will be “highly sustainable” with “leading operational sustainability credentials” as well as feature “urban greening and a new roof terrace”.
Refurbishing and retrofitting the existing building does not appear to be under consideration.
An exhibition of the proposals and a webinar are taking place this month.
Cavendish Block Consultation. In person: Wednesday 15 May, 4pm – 7pm Room C1.03 in the Cavendish building, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW. Online event: Monday 20 May, 6pm – 7pm. Please send an email to the team to register for the webinar. [email protected]
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