Prestigious LSE building completed

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), is celebrating the completion of its Marshall Building, a project that features integral steel structures to form its open-plan interior.

Designed by Grafton Architects, the new flagship building comprises ten upper floors and two basement levels, which house The Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship along with the academic departments of accounting, finance and management, as well as teaching facilities and new sports facilities for the Students’ Union.

The two most noticeable elements formed with steelwork are two tree-like structures, that help to create open-plan areas and evenly transfer substantial loads to the foundations.

Both of the trees have four steel raking branches, are similar in size and provide similar solutions. Tree one is supported by a column, stemming from the first floor through a second-floor void, and supports the third floor. Tree two supports the slab at level four and is founded on a steel column that is sat on top of a transfer beam at level one.

“Steel was used for the trees as the four branches collectively support approximately 3,500t, which was not feasible in concrete given the structural zones available,’ said AKT II Associate Wai Pang.

Working on behalf of Mace, Bourne Steel fabricated, supplied and erected the steelwork.