Management School redevelopment: winner announced

17 December 2015

We are pleased to announce the firm of architects who will be designing our new building. 

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Lancaster University are pleased to announce that the competition to redevelop the Management School has been won by a multi-disciplinary design team led by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

The project to redevelop the Management School is seeking to create a truly world-class and innovative teaching, research and business-engagement environment to cater for the future needs of students, staff and business partners.

The Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios team was selected from a five strong shortlist that also included (in alphabetical order of design team lead):  Haworth Tompkins; Hopkins Architects; John McAslan + Partners and Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

The Judging Panel which evaluated the Phase 2 design submissions comprised, from the University:  the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of Lancaster University Management School and the Director of Facilities.  They were joined by Stephen Hodder (RIBA Immediate Past President) and Jim Chapman (acting as the RIBA Architect Adviser to the competition).

The Panel recognised that teams had been set a challenging brief in terms of the selective retention of existing estate and integration of new build elements to deliver the University’s aspiration for a Management School of international standing. The Panel felt there was much to admire within Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ considered response - particularly the permeability of the design; the very strong plan form and overall organisational flow within the facility’ including integration of the Lancaster Leadership Centre’s existing suite of lecture theatres.

Mark Swindlehurst, Lancaster University Director of Facilities, said: "This project will create an outstanding study and work environment that mirrors the world-class reputation of the Management School.  The quality of the submissions, from some of the UK’s most exciting design teams, set the bar extremely high.  After a hotly-contested competition, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios emerged as winners, producing a bold, contemporary design concept which will transform the Management School.  We would like to thank all the shortlisted teams for their interest and engagement in this process.”

LUMS Dean Professor Angus Laing said: "What makes Lancaster University Management School one of Britain's leading business schools is the culture of bringing world-class academics, excellent students and innovative companies into a community where knowledge is created and exchanged.  Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios understood the importance of creating a physical environment, which supports such a community, a community where creativity and ambition are fostered.  This exciting new building will form part of the drive to position Lancaster University Management School as one of the world's leading business schools, inspiring leaders and transforming practice."

Tom Jarman, Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said:“We are delighted to have been selected to take forward this exciting project with Lancaster University and look forward to contributing to the rich ensemble of parts that make up this exceptional university campus.  The Management School is embarking upon a project that will serve to re-cast learning and research environments in a substantive manner and we relish the opportunity to play a part in this endeavour with them.”

Lancaster University Management School has earned a global reputation for leading research and teaching excellence, providing a stimulating and supportive environment for students from across the world.  The School features in the UK’s top ten and the world’s top 1% of business schools.