We’ve completed a 10,200 sq ft, three-storey T-Level Building at the London Design & Engineering University Technical College (LDE UTC) in the Royal Docks, East London. Delivered with Neilcott Construction Ltd, it forms a key part of the campus expansion and provides specialist, purpose-built space for vocational learning in design, engineering, digital, furniture-making and other technical disciplines.

This new building sits alongside our original LDE UTC project, which we also designed, extending a campus we’ve helped shape from the outset. We’ve designed both buildings to work as one coherent environment. They share a common entrance forecourt and a consistent material language of dark grey cladding with bold yellow accents, reinforcing the identity of the UTC. Together, they frame a landscaped square that becomes the social and academic heart of the campus, while also activating the Royal Albert Dock frontage.

Inside, we’ve focused on creating spaces that reflect the realities of industry. Working closely with employer partners, we’ve co-designed teaching environments that mirror professional settings. On the ground floor, large-scale furniture-making workshops accommodate heavy machinery and fabrication processes. Above, lighter-touch workshops, classrooms, offices and breakout spaces support a wider mix of teaching and collaboration.

A glazed south-facing elevation brings daylight deep into the building and opens views across the waterfront, while also making the activity inside visible from the surrounding public realm. The intention is simple: to connect learning with the life of the dock, and to make skills-based education visible and valued.

We’ve taken a ‘Fabric First’ approach throughout, prioritising a high-performing building envelope that meets Department for Education and local authority sustainability requirements. Just as importantly, we’ve designed the building to adapt. The internal layout allows for future change, supporting the UTC’s evolving curriculum and its close relationship with industry partners.

Now in use, the T-Level Building marks an important milestone in the growth of the LDE UTC campus. It strengthens the college’s specialist facilities, supports its expanding technical offer, and reflects a long-term commitment to tackling the UK skills gap through well-designed, employer-led learning environments.