‘An excellent contribution to the fastest growing part of London’: Stephen Timms MP visits UCL East

UCL East will give the UCL the additional scale and space we need to bring together the public, scientists, students, business and industry to create the knowledge and tools needed to tackle the challenges of tomorrow’s world.

Part of the London 2012 legacy education and cultural development at East Bank, the campus will be home to cutting edge new research centres on topics ranging from robotics and artificial intelligence to urbanisation, sustainability, disability, heritage and global health. UCL academics have been working with partners across the Olympic boroughs for several years to tackle local challenges and community engagement will be integral to research and learning across the new campus.

Stephen Timms was accompanied on his visit by UCL President and Provost Dr Michael Spence, UCL East Director Professor Paola Lettieri, UCL Pro-Provost for London Professor Alan Thompson and UCL Vice-Provost for External Engagement Professor Dame Hazel Genn.

The Labour member for East Ham toured the interior of the magnificent UCL East Marshgate building that stands next to the ArcelorMittal Orbit and London Stadium. It comprises a vast atrium and eight floors that will house state-of-the-art cross-disciplinary research labs, learning and teaching areas, exhibition spaces and public art, collaboration spaces as well as fabrication workshops and the Institute of Making, plus a library, a refectory and quiet contemplation and prayer space.

From Marshgate, Stephen Timms then viewed the exterior of UCL East’s twin towered One Pool Street building opposite, which will open this autumn just along the river from the London Aquatics Centre. Alongside a creative art studio, multi-disciplinary research labs, and a lecture theatre doubling as a cinema, it will include an urban room for public engagement as well as a shop, café and accommodation for more than 500 students. 

Marshgate will complete the first phase of UCL East when it opens in the autumn of 2023.

The tour also saw the MP and UCL staff meeting a group of young apprentices from east London who are working for the construction company MACE on the Marshgate campus building as part of UCL East’s commitment to employment and training opportunities at East Bank.

Stephen Timms MP said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to UCL East. The buildings are really striking. UCL’s new campus will provide a major hub for learning, research and innovation for this part of London for decades to come. It is an excellent contribution to the fastest growing part of London.”

Images

• 1. Left to right: UCL President and Provost Dr Michael Spence, Stephen Timms MP, UCL East Director Professor Paola Lettieri FREng, UCL Pro-Provost for London Professor Alan Thompson - Credit: James Tye

• 2. UCL East Marshgate building next to the ArcelorMittal Orbit on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - Credit: Morley von Sternberg

• 3. UCL East Director Paola Lettieri FREng with Stephen Timms MP - Credit: James Tye

• 4. UCL East One Pool Street building on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - Credit: Morley von Sternberg

• 5. UCL East construction partner MACE apprentice Rayhana Rahman chats with a group of apprentice colleagues from east London to UCL East Provost Dr Michael Spence - Credit: James Tye

Learn more about how UCL is engaging with communities in east London