The pace of change has perhaps never been quicker. This issue of New London Quarterly marks that, created during the period in which Londoners have locked down, along with the rest of the country, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This issue hears from AECOM’s Stephen Engblom, Selasi Setufe a co-founder of Black Females in Architecture, HB Reavis’s Steven Skinner, the breakthrough practice Archio, with the regular My London feature by guest writer Emily Gee.

Appropriately, our building review this time has public health at its heart. Stanton Williams’ exquisite and humane Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children is a friendly locale for lab work and care — and research into COVID-19. 

As Mark Titchner’s artwork in the centre’s entrance puts it (quoting Helen Keller): ‘Together we can do so much.’ A fitting leitmotif for this period of intense change — and the opportunities that can result.

New Londoners
AECOM’s Stephen Engblom and BeFirst’s Selasi Setufe

 Tall Buildings Special
Knight Frank’s Stuart Baillie on the latest NLA research into tall buildings in London

 High streets of the future
Might e-sports be one help to the high street of the future? David Taylor talks to HKS Architects’ Chi Bhatia

Breakthrough practices
Socially engaged — Archio is making waves in housing and community consultation. David Taylor met them

 Top of their game
HB Reavis CEO Steven Skinner tells David Taylor about the unusual developer’s plans in Waterloo, Farringdon and Shoreditch

 Building review
Stanton Williams’ Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Diseas in Children gets the building review treatment

 Need to know
The quarter — our summary of all the key news events this term

Viewpoint
We ask: how will COVID-19 change London?

Murray Mint
Peter Murray argues that London needs to ‘Build Back Better’ in the post-COVID-19 era

 Opinions
Opinions this time from Dolphin Living, First Base, Gort Scott and BECG

From the team
‘Super-connector’ NLA business development director Emma Jefferson pays tribute to her role model father

 Columnist
Professor Yolande Barnes points to the urbanistic, social and planning lessons London could learn from the pandemic

Coffee break
Child Graddon Lewis director Arita Morris answers the NLQ’s questions

My London
Historic England’s Emily Gee takes a (virtual) trip around Coram’s Fields

Portfolio
Tamsie Thomson sets the scene for an unusual year for the London Festival of Architecture

In focus
Business coach Louise Rodgers looks at how organisations have responded to the challenges thrown up by COVID-19

Best of the web
‘Five minutes with...’ — as part of the NLA’s New London Weekly, David Taylor caught up with Buckley Gray Yeoman founder Matt Yeoman

Project preview
West End hit — Woods Bagot on its ‘love-letter’ to the city, The Londoner

Briefing notes
Our coverage of both NLA’s pre-lockdown, physical events and Zoomed webinars

NEW Out of office
John Robertson reveals a little-known, extra curricular passion — kitesurfing

Market essay
Cushman & Wakefield head of UK research and insight Greg Mansell outlines market conditions

Published June 2020.

Team credits
Editor, David Taylor. Editor-in-chief, Peter Murray. Production, Michelle Haywood. Art direction, Stefano Meroni. Photography, Agnese Sanvito. Sub editor, Julia Dawson.