Protecting a historic home for art: water ingress repairs completed at the Slade

The Slade’s main building is a Grade I listed structure located within the Bloomsbury Conservation Area and has been at the heart of art education at UCL for over a century. Maintaining the condition and resilience of a building of this age and complexity is essential not only to protect its heritage value, but also to support safe, uninterrupted teaching, learning and exhibition activity.

Why the work was needed 

Over several years, building surveys identified defects across key elements of the Slade’s external envelope, including roof coverings, gutters, roof lights, windows and associated rainwater goods. These issues were contributing to repeated water ingress during periods of heavy rainfall, causing disruption.  

While interim maintenance works carried out in 2023 helped reduce leakage, they could not resolve underlying design and drainage capacity challenges in this historic building. During more extreme weather events in particular, continued deterioration risked further damage to the historic fabric.  

What work has been completed 

UCL Estates has now delivered a focused programme of repairs addressing the most critical points of failure. The completed works concentrated on areas known to be the primary sources of water ingress and have significantly reduced the risk of future leaks. 

The programme included: 

• overhaul and localised replacement of lead roof coverings and details 
• replacement of roof lights, roof lanterns and glazed panels 
• repair and replacement of timber windows, including draught proofing 
• cleaning and repair of external elevations and roof level elements 
• improvements to gutters and rainwater drainage capacity 
• associated internal making good and coordination with existing services 

Where possible, additional planned repairs were incorporated while access scaffolding was in place, helping to minimise future disruption and make best use of the works. 

Working with Camden Council on a listed building 

Given the Slade’s listed status and sensitive conservation context, the project team worked closely with Camden Council throughout both the design and delivery stages. 

Early engagement ensured proposals aligned with heritage and planning requirements, with works designed on a like for like basis where appropriate and using traditional materials and methods compatible with the historic fabric. This collaborative approach supported timely approvals, reduced delivery risk and ensured the completed works meet both statutory obligations and conservation best practice. 

What this means for staff and students 

The programme has successfully resolved the most serious water ingress issues and significantly reduced the risk of future leaks. This helps protect teaching studios, workshops and exhibition spaces, and provides a safer, more reliable environment for the Slade community. 

Importantly, the repairs also safeguard the building’s historic fabric, supporting UCL’s long-term stewardship of the Slade as a nationally significant centre for artistic practice. 

What happens next 

With the core water ingress issues now addressed, the focus moves to post-completion review and monitoring to confirm long-term performance.  

Lower priority external repairs will be considered as part of future planned maintenance and capital programmes, in line with UCL’s wider estates strategy. Any further phases will be carefully planned to ensure the continued protection and conservation of the Slade while supporting its active use as a teaching and exhibition building. 

Your feedback helps protect our historic buildings 

The long-term performance of repairs to historic buildings like the Slade depends not only on careful design and delivery, but also on timely reporting of emerging issues. 

If you notice signs of water ingress, defects to building fabric, or issues affecting teaching, studio or exhibition spaces, reporting them through MyCampus helps Estates teams respond quickly and prioritise action. 

Using MyCampus ensures that: 

• issues are logged centrally and tracked 
• patterns can be identified across complex historic buildings 
• problems are assessed using up-to-date condition and performance data 
• maintenance and future investment decisions are informed by real experience 

Every MyCampus report contributes to UCL’s approach to caring for its estate, supporting both day-to-day building performance and the long-term stewardship of nationally significant historic assets.