Transforming a City office into a university campus, Northeastern University London’s expansion delivers over 9,000m² of specialist teaching, laboratory and social space.

Transforming an existing London office into a university campus, this project redefines how education can inhabit the City of London.

Northeastern University London’s expansion at One Portsoken Street embeds a new model of higher education within the dense commercial fabric of the City, near Tower Bridge. The scheme delivers over 9,000m² of specialist teaching, laboratory and social space, including advanced biology, chemistry, and physics laboratories, makerspaces and flexible learning environments, enabling the University’s long-term growth and establishing a permanent, high-quality London presence.

Arup led a multidisciplinary design approach from feasibility through to delivery, repurposing the upper floors of an existing office building into a highly serviced academic environment. The project integrates complex laboratory infrastructure within the constraints of an existing structure, successfully aligning UK regulatory requirements with US academic standards.

Flexibility underpins the design, with adaptable spaces that support evolving pedagogies and enable rapid reconfiguration between lectures, research and collaborative learning. A network of social and breakout spaces fosters interaction and wellbeing, strengthening the overall student experience and supporting interdisciplinary exchange.

By transforming underutilised commercial space, the project demonstrates how adaptive reuse can intensify and diversify urban use, contributing to the City’s evolution as a more mixed, resilient and inclusive district. The scheme strengthens London’s position as a global centre for education and innovation, while setting a benchmark for future-ready learning environments delivered through retrofit.