Improving our campus together: an update on UCL’s Infrastructure Masterplan

Every day, thousands of people study, work and collaborate across UCL’s diverse and busy campus. To support this activity, UCL has committed an initial £48.5 million investment through the Infrastructure Masterplan, a long-term programme designed to modernise the essential systems that keep our estate safe, accessible and resilient. 

With more than 250 buildings across our estate, the IMP focuses on getting the basics right: more reliable lifts, better washrooms, improved accessibility, smarter building controls and long-term sustainability. Together, these improvements underpin our teaching and research and contribute to an ever-improving campus that works better for everyone. 

What does the IMP include? 

1. Improving accessibility and everyday experience 

Three-year lift modernisation programme 

Reliable access across our buildings is critical, particularly for disabled staff and students. As part of a £17 million, three-year lift modernisation programme, the IMP is upgrading lifts across high-priority buildings to improve reliability and support accessible routes across campus. 

A full review of all 260 lifts on campus has been completed, with 48 selected for modernisation in this phase. The first buildings scheduled for upgrades are: 

• Malet Place Engineering Building 
• Ramsay Hall (single lift) 
• Chandler House 
• IOE 20 Bedford Way (library lift) 
• 1–19 Torrington Place lifts 

To strengthen day-to-day reliability, UCL has also improved its maintenance approach by appointing specialist suppliers across Bloomsbury and UCL East. This structure improves response times and reduces downtime, helping ensure buildings remain accessible whenever they are needed. 

Washroom upgrade programme 

A two-year refurbishment programme is underway to modernise washrooms building by building. Upgrades will improve accessibility, hygiene and privacy, with clear phasing and wayfinding in place to help staff and students plan around temporary disruption. Each completed building will be reviewed to ensure feedback and learning are embedded in future phases. 

Refurbishing inclusive teaching spaces  

We have already upgraded 27 classrooms to create more inclusive, comfortable and engaging learning environments, adding ergonomic furniture, improved layouts and biophilic design features to better support neurodiverse users. New hearing assistive technology has also been installed, allowing students to stream audio directly to their devices. The next phase of improvements is now being planned for summer, with ongoing input from our community helping shape future layouts, accessibility upgrades and digital enhancements. 

2. Cutting carbon and modernising our heating networks 

We are making strong progress in reducing UCL’s carbon footprint by transforming how we heat and power our buildings. Since 2019, we have already cut carbon emissions from building energy use by 56%, and the Infrastructure Masterplan accelerates this work. A major milestone has been the installation of a new all-electric heating system in the Wilkins Building, replacing a failed fossil-fuel system with modern air-source heat pumps. 

Cruciform heat pump pilot 

The Cruciform Building is now acting as a test bed for next generation air source heat pump technology. This will help us understand how best to deploy these systems across our historic and varied estate, supporting future decarbonisation at scale. 

Heat networks 

Proposals for a future Gower Street Heat Network are progressing, exploring a whole system approach to low carbon heating. At the same time, phased upgrades to the Bloomsbury Heat and Power Network are underway, improving energy efficiency and supporting long term reductions in carbon and running costs. 

Together, these projects will deliver warmer, more comfortable spaces for students, staff and visitors, while taking another significant step towards a low carbon, resilient campus. 

3. Creating smarter, more energy-efficient buildings 

LED lighting 

The campuswide LED lighting programme continues to expand, reducing energy consumption while improving the quality and consistency of light in teaching, study and social spaces. LEDs also reduce maintenance requirements, helping keep buildings bright and functional. UCL Estates are working with Industry and Academic colleagues to ensure LED lighting provision is supportive of Health and Wellbeing, within our spaces.  

Building management systems (BMS) 

Modern building management systems give UCL the tools to monitor and control energy use in real time. Five buildings have been upgraded so far, with 29 included in the first phase. These systems help detect faults earlier, maintain more stable temperatures and reduce environmental impact across the estate. 

Fume cupboards 

A significant upgrade programme initially covering around 120 fume cupboards is underway to ensure safe, efficient and compliant laboratory environments for our research community. 

Why minor works matter 

Minor works may not be as visible as major refurbishments, but they are crucial in improving the everyday experience across campus. They include small refurbishments, repairs and targeted updates to teaching rooms, study areas and shared spaces. 

Because many of our buildings are historic, heavily used or structurally complex, these works require careful planning, design and sequencing.  

How decisions are made 

The IMP is driven by evidence and shaped by our community. Decisions draw on: 

• Asset condition surveys 
• Inclusive design assessments 
• Real building performance data 
• Direct feedback from staff and students through MyCampus  

Help shape our ever-improving campus 

Your feedback is vital to how we plan and prioritise improvements. 

Use MyCampus to report anything that affects your daily experience 

Whether it is a lift outage, a temperature concern, an accessibility barrier or a general maintenance need, every report goes straight to the systems used by Estates teams and suppliers. This helps us act quickly, spot patterns and shape the next round of improvements.