Saw Swee Hock: The Realisation of the London School of Economics Student Centre

"The building is designed to embody the dynamic character of a

contemporary Student Union. The complex geometries of the site

provided a starting point for an unconventional arrangement of

irregular floor plates, each one particular to its function and each

working into the next by an intricate system of trapezoidal spatial

configuration. Space flows freely in horizontal plan and vertical

section, with stairs gently twisting and slowly turning to create a

variety of diagonal break-out spaces at landings and crossings

throughout the building."

Saw Swee Hock provides an overview of the Saw Swee Hock

Students' Centre, the first new building constructed at the London

School of Economics (LSE) for over 40 years. It includes a reception,

offices, bars, a fitness centre and event and media facilities. The

book looks at the commissioning process on the part of LSE, through

the appointment of O'Donnell + T uomey Architects--who were

selected following a two-stage international design competition in

june 2009 -- to then focus on the way in which the architects have

responded to the complexities of the brief and in collaboration with

the bespoke manufacturers involved; particularly, the quality of the

bricks, each of which is hand-formed, resulting in a facade that is

both striking and very unusual for central London.

The commissioning of this type of building is the manifestation of

a larger and particularly interesting phenomenon that is happening

on a global scale: LSE, like a number of other academic institutions

around the world, has put up an aggressive programme of world

class architecture as a way of competing with other schools to

attract students internationally. The book includes contributions

by julian Robinson of LSE Estates, as well as interviews with the

designers and manufacturers who were involved in the process

of the building's realisation."