Creating a campus for all, UCL Estates continues to deliver our Bicentennial Physical Legacy Works. Find out more about plans for the future of Gordon Street.
As we approach UCL’s 200th anniversary in 2026, Estates is on track to deliver some major capital development milestones, helping to create a campus of belonging for students, staff and visitors. Three projects, including the Main Quad remodelling, Wilkins Building refurbishment and Gordon Street enhancements, are aimed to create an inclusive central hub that makes all who study, work, and visit here feel welcomed and supported.
Since January 2025, significant progress has been made on the upgrade of UCL’s Main Quad and the Wilkins Building, and this summer marks the beginning of an exciting transformation for Gordon Street.
The project will start in July 2025 and is scheduled to be completed in November 2025. This initiative will focus on improving the appearance and functionality of the surrounding buildings and streetscape. These enhancements are designed not only to benefit the UCL community but also to enrich the wider public realm for all who live, work and pass through the area.
Key improvements will include a green wall and canopy which will be installed on the Christopher Ingold Building featuring native plant species.
* Image source: Nicholas Hare Architects. The renderings above are for reference and do not necessarily represent the final design.
This enhancement will help attenuate rainwater and surface water, improving greening and biodiversity on campus. Beyond its environmental benefits, Through collaboration with academic staff from the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment , this will form part of the UCL Living Lab programme , an initiative that integrates campus operations with research and teaching. It allows students and researchers to engage with real-life sustainability challenges directly, fostering innovation and learning in a multi-disciplinary setting.
Quinn London has been appointed as the leading contractor with site setup starting in the week commencing Monday, 21 July. During the works, the usual entrances to surrounding buildings will remain open, and all fire escape routes will be unaffected. However, pedestrian pathways will be narrowed due to the installation of hoarding and may not be suitable for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users are advised to access the Christopher Ingold Building via the south side of Gordon Street (near Gordon Square). Frequent users of nearby buildings will receive direct communications from the Estates’ Project Team.
Transforming Gordon Street consultation
In parallel with the construction works, UCL Estates, in partnership with Camden Council, is exploring trial changes on Gordon Street with a proposal to significantly pedestrianise and improve the public realm in the street in 2026.
Gordon Street is a key strategic Camden Street within the Knowledge Quarter , UCL and Bloomsbury, connecting to Euston and the major HS2 project, and the wider University Quarter to the south. It has been identified as part of a green route, connecting Camden to the Thames.
The proposal would build on UCL and Camden’s commitment to promote healthier and more active forms of travel and the creation of more shared outdoor spaces for students, residents, and visitors to UCL to enjoy (such as the improvements to Gordon Square already in place). By trialling changes, we could see how the street is used and develops over time. To create a more attractive place to stop, rest and enjoy we’re proposing to restrict traffic while still allowing access for emergency vehicles, timed local deliveries and a route to blue badge holder parking bays.
A four to five-week public consultation, led by Camden Council, will launch late July 2025, gathering public feedback on improvements to the look and feel of the area, traffic access, accessibility, and the overall pedestrianisation idea. All members of the UCL community are encouraged to take part and share their views. Further details will be shared shortly.
As we continue to shape a campus that balances UCL’s historic heritage with an ambitious vision for the future, these transformative works mark a significant step forward. To explore design visuals and view construction timelines, please visit the Bicentennial Physical Legacy Works webpage.
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