Designed for 600 students, London Design and Engineering University Technical College (LDE UTC) now supports more than 900 learners. Our latest post-occupancy evaluation (POE) explores how the building has adapted to this growth while continuing to deliver on its original ambitions.

Completed in 2018 as part of the wider regeneration of Royal Albert Dock, the £20 million, BREEAM Excellent-rated college brings together specialist engineering, science and digital learning facilities with welcoming teaching and social spaces.

Feedback from staff and students highlighted the building's spaciousness, natural light and welcoming atmosphere. Despite increased student numbers, its generous circulation routes help maintain a sense of openness, while flexible teaching spaces have adapted to changing curriculum requirements.

The evaluation found that the building has exceeded expectations in capacity, acoustics and overall environmental quality. It also identified opportunities to enhance quiet study areas and make greater use of social and outdoor learning spaces.

The college's impact extends beyond its physical environment. LDE UTC is ranked within the top 10% of University Technical Colleges nationally and achieved a 100% pass rate across all T Levels and engineering technical diplomas in 2026.

For us, the findings underline the value of post-occupancy evaluation in understanding how buildings perform over time. By listening to the people who use our spaces every day, we can learn what works, identify opportunities for improvement and apply those insights to future projects.

Read the full case study to explore the findings and learn more about the project.