This event has now taken place.

Venue: Imperial College London

The 1990’s was a time of great change in universities and their estates, including the opportunity for polytechnics to become universities and the medical mergers in London. The resultant expansion and change to university estates followed on from a period of relatively low capital investment and provided an opportunity to consider how to design differently for the future. It was in that same decade that the University Design Forum (then HEDQF) was born, which was celebrated in December 2025 in the Beit Quadrangle at Imperial College, London. The Sir Alexander Building, Imperial College, designed by Foster and Partners and opened in October 1996, was one of those new buildings. It brought together two projects into one - new facilities for the School of Medicine on the South Kensington Campus, and a new building for Biology, relocated from the Beit Quadrangle. This reference visit will provide an opportunity to review the background to the original project, its objectives and its design – innovative at the time – and through the lens of a recent refurbishment project, review lessons for the future design of such scientific buildings in a changing world. 

Draft Programme

4.00pm arrival and refreshments
4.30pm Introduction
4.35pm Ian Caldwell, former Director of Estates and Facilities at Imperial College, London to give an overview of the strategic background behind Medicine and Biology moving to the new building.
4.45pm Spencer de Grey, Senior Advisor, Foster & Partners, on the design of the building at the time, precedents and what was innovative at the time.
5.00pm (Ramesh) Sivaramesh Wigneshweraraj, Campus Dean, Imperial College on experience over the past 30 years. Ramesh was one of the first occupants of the building, moving from Beit and therefore has had a long and positive association with the building
5.15pm Nick Green, Director, Saunders Boston Architects on lessons from the recent refurbishment project in terms of designing such a laboratory building in the future
5.30pm Q&A/discussion
5.45pm Building visits, coordinated by Sam Tolhurst and Darius Golmantas, Imperial College School of Medicine, in small groups.
7pm Networking and drinks

The University Design Forum extend its thanks to the host and supporters, Imperial College London, Fosters, Walter Lilly and Saunders Boston.