The University of East Anglia (UEA) has approved plans for a new home for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities that also unlocks the Grade II-listed Lasdun Wall for refurbishment over the next decade.

The Sky House, designed by LSI Architects, will become home to Arts and Humanities and some Social Sciences schools from 2022. The new building will allow staff and students to move out of the Lasdun Wall and enable the start of the phased refurbishment of the Historic England-listed 1960s block.

The Sky House will be located on a site at the end of the Lasdun Wall, across from the Registry, and will act as a new main reception point for the UEA campus.

The c. £65 million The Sky House will include:

• general purpose teaching and seminar spaces 

• flexible informal learning spaces 

• language learning lab 

• drama studios

• rehearsal spaces 

• screening room 

• café facilities 

• faculty and school offices 

• provision for HUM’s postgrad community 

• PGCE teaching rooms 

• a new reception point for the University 

• learning and teaching hub 

The development of The Sky House is the key to unlocking the Lasdun Wall’s major refurbishment. The Lasdun Wall, completed in 1970, is listed by Historic England for its special architectural and historic interest but is at the end of its design life. Very significant investment in the Lasdun Wall is now needed to ensure it is safe, secure and fit for the future needs of UEA staff and students.

UEA Vice-Chancellor Professor David Richardson said: “Investing in our UEA campus means investing in our people and the spaces they need to work, learn, study and teach both now and in the future. The Sky House will be the new gateway to UEA for visitors and provide collaborative and communal working spaces for our staff and students.”

LSI Architects Director Mirja Mainwaring said: “LSI Architects has been present on the UEA’s framework for a number of years, and in that time we have completed a number of award-winning schemes on the campus. During the years in which we have worked with the UEA, it has become a leading UK University as evidenced by its continued rise up the rankings in the Complete University Guide and The Times Good University Guide. The Sky House project will provide a springboard for the development of the UEA’s 2030 vision and signals the university’s intent to invest in the campus now and into the future.

LSI Architects are delighted to be involved in such a significant project for the University, and have greatly enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the UEA who, as a client, appreciate and value the input that the architectural team has had and have always been willing to listen to our ideas.”

Under the UEA 2030 Vision and Plan a total of £300 million is being invested in facilities for staff and students on UEA’s campus in order to enable our people to work, learn, teach and study in spaces that better meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs.

Later this summer, significant enabling works will need to take place to start getting The Sky House site ready for construction in Spring 2020. Those works are likely to involve:

• changing the road layout around the site

• removing c. 300 car park spaces in the main car park 

• changing the main car park entrance layouts 

• relocating the cycle parking currently next to Founders Green 

• removing around 85 trees from the site and replanting more trees elsewhere  

• relocating footpaths and bus stops 

• demolishing the Lodge 

• putting in new services including electricity, heating, water, and data