黑洞社区

The London School of Economics (LSE) has launched its third international design competition as part of its estate improvements programme which has seen O鈥橠onnell & Tuomey and Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners pick up the first two schemes.

Fast becoming a key client in the industry, the latest deal is for a 拢100m redevelopment of 44 Lincoln鈥檚 Inn Fields in central London which will be known as the Paul Marshall 黑洞社区 鈥� named after a hedge fund manager who is worth an estimated 拢300m.

This latest scheme will involve a major new university building on the site which was bought two years ago from Cancer Research UK. The charity is due to move out next year ahead of the eight-storey building being knocked down.

Up to six practices will be shortlisted by the middle of November with the competition brief issued in January. A winner will be chosen at the end of April next year.

Marshall, who helped found children鈥檚 charity ARK, is a major benefactor of the LSE and recently sunk 拢30m into helping it create the Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship.

The university said it wants the new building to 鈥減lay a key role in promoting the values, ethos and brand of LSE鈥� and added: 鈥淚ts contemporary high quality design will inspire future generations of students and academics and will be regarded as a seminal piece of university architecture in its historic setting overlooking Lincoln鈥檚 Inn Fields.鈥�

Its director of estates Julian Robinson said: 鈥�The Paul Marshall 黑洞社区 presents a unique challenge for architects to secure a high-profile global scheme with the opportunity to design a new landmark university building in one of central London鈥檚 most important and historic areas.鈥�

Robinson made headlines two years ago when he told the shortlist for the competition eventually won by RSHP that their proposals were not good enough. At the time, he said the submissions 鈥� which included propsoals from OMA and Hopkins 鈥� had 鈥渋nteresting ideas but there鈥檚 not one really outstanding scheme. There鈥檚 some further work to do by the practices and the LSE.鈥�

O鈥橠onnell & Tuomey was the practice behind the LSE鈥檚 award-winning Saw Swee Hock Student Centre while work on RSHP鈥檚 Global Centre for Social Sciences building is currently on site at its Aldwych campus.

Firms have until October 19 to send in expressions of interest for the Paul Marshall 黑洞社区. For more information go to