University College London (UCL) is one of the world’s leading universities, founded in London. With big ambition for growth, UCL has a 20-year strategy, ‘Strategy 2034’ which aims to integrate education, research, innovation and enterprise for the long-term benefit of humanity. As part of the growth plans, UCL is seeing big physical developments, including the refurbishment of existing areas, as well as the creation of new spaces within the campus.

The UCL Wilkins Terrace and Refectory is a joint project, with the refurbishment of the Old Refectory and the building of a brand new exterior space in the heart of the UCL campus. Wilkins Terrace on the other hand would be a new build area offering a multi-functional open terrace, over what was once a cluttered service yard. The aim of the terrace was to provide an attractive outdoor space for students and staff alike to host large scale events.

International architectural and design practice, BDP, were commissioned to reinvigorate the spaces with lighting providing users with a modern, comfortable and stimulating visual environment to support health, wellbeing and alertness. It was paramount that the lighting design offered complete flexibility to accommodate the range of events UCL wanted to host in the areas.

BDP selected LED Linear™ VarioLED™ Flex HYDRA, to light the Old Refectory. A round diffuser was used to illuminate the raft lighting, offering the Refectory a distinct day and evening atmosphere. The lighting subtly dims up or down to add vibrancy and punch during the day and warm accents during the evening. The team at BDP used up lighting to reveal the arches and to add some timeless elegance to the space.

Fort the Terrace, LED Linear’s VarioLED™ Flex PHOBOS was integrated to illuminate the steps, benches and fixed furniture. The focus is on the newly erected 4th Façade accentuated with up lights in the stone reveals. In this project a variety of the LED Linear™ indoors and outdoors LED tapes was integrated to achieve great effect.


Lighting design: BDP

Customer: University College London

Location: London, United Kingdom

Photos: Amphitype

Local Partner: Architainment

Products: VarioLED™ Flex HYDRA LD White IP67; VarioLED™ Flex Side View LD White IP67; VarioLED™ Flex VENUS family White Top View IP67