UCL Bicentennial

UCL’s bicentenary presented an opportunity to revitalise the historic heart of its Bloomsbury campus, creating a lasting legacy beyond the anniversary celebrations. The challenge was to improve accessibility, connectivity and the everyday use of the Main Quad and Grade I Listed Wilkins Building while respecting their architectural significance. Previously underused spaces needed to accommodate a wider range of activities, with improvements to circulation, building services and public realm helping to make the campus more welcoming for students, staff and visitors.

G&T provided Cost Management and Project Management services for the transformation, supporting the refurbishment of the Wilkins Building and redesign of the Main Quad. Internal alterations reconnected the cloisters and adjoining rooms, creating flexible spaces for learning, exhibitions and events. A new lift improved connections between three floors, complemented by step-free routes and upgraded entrances. Outside, reconfigured landscaping and planting created more accessible gathering spaces, while improved glazing and air source heat pumps enhanced comfort and supported the university’s energy efficiency objectives.

The revitalised spaces provide a more inclusive and connected campus heart, combining heritage with facilities suited to contemporary university life. Since reopening in February 2026, the Main Quad and Wilkins Building hosted 147 events within three months, with more than 500 bookings secured for the year. G&T’s combined service solution contributed to a programme of improvements that brings previously fragmented spaces into wider use, supporting UCL’s bicentennial celebrations and its longer-term ambitions for learning, collaboration and public engagement.