Retrofit Tours are a celebration of retrofitted buildings in the city of London. To bring to life the challenges of retrofit and showcase what is possible through collaboration, the Building Centre in conjunction with our partners, invites you to tours guided by the architects and engineers of some recently retrofitted buildings.
Operating in different contexts, retrofitted to varying degrees and for various reasons, each tour will make plain what is possible when we choose to work with what we already have, adapting it to the needs of the users. Join us for a guided tour followed by time to ask your burning questions.
Eckersley O’Callaghan and WilkinsonEyre oversaw the redevelopment of London South Bank University’s largest academic building on it’s main campus; a 1970’s concrete- framed building on London Road.
The original building- used for teaching and office space- was unfit for modern use. The refurbished building, now the Hub, includes; lecture theatres, sports facilities, catering areas and a library. Eckersley O’Callaghan provided structural and façade engineering services. Most of the structure was retained and the cradle- to- gate embodied carbon component is just under half of the LETI target for education buildings. The award- winning project saw the creation of a student hub that can facilitate both learning and socialising.
Join us as engineers from Eckersley O’Callaghan along with architects from WilkinsonEyre take us on a tour of this building and stay for an informal Q&A after.
*Please arrive at 9.40am at the entrance under the canopy to begin the tour at 10am.
Tour Leaders
- Lukas Ziak (Senior Structural Engineer – Eckersley O’Callaghan)
- Nat Keast (Associate Director – WilkinsonEyre)
- Stephen Balls (Deputy Director of Estates & Academic Environment – London South Bank University)
Lukas graduated from Imperial College London in 2018, after which he joined Eckersley O'Callaghan. His work has been predominantly within the education sector, the most notable projects in his portfolio are LSBU Hub, City of London Boys’ School and TUMO, a new earthquake-resistant technology centre in Armenia. In 2023, Lukas became chartered with the IStructE and progressed his role to a Senior Structural Engineer.
Nat has worked on a series of projects in the education sector, including projects for Exeter University and the University of Cambridge. He recently completed work on London South Bank University’s new Hub; the transformation of an unwelcoming 1970s building into an inviting centre piece for its main Southwark campus. He is currently leading the design team for a new Further Education College in Wembley as well as, a new Life Sciences Laboratory Building in Oxford. Both projects secured planning permission in 2023.
Stephen supports London South Bank University in the strategic leadership and effective management of the Estates department whilst taking specific responsibility for the leadership of Capital Projects and Space teams within the department. Through a major programme of capital expenditure, LSBU is looking to rationalise and develop its property portfolio to provide an optimum physical environment for academic activities. Stephen has a proven track record in delivering large-scale capital programmes.
