Saw Swee Hock Student Centre

Saw Swee Hock Student Centre is a prominent building located at the London School of Economics in Aldwych, London, designed by the acclaimed architectural firm O'Donnell + Tuomey, founded by Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey. The building has been recognized for its unique design, which has drawn comparisons to the works of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. As a hub for student activity, the centre has hosted events featuring notable figures such as Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, former Director of the LSE Howard Davies, and BBC journalist Sarah Kendzior. The centre's design has also been influenced by the works of Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

● Introduction

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre has become an integral part of the London School of Economics campus, providing a space for students to engage in various activities, from debating societies to student union events, often featuring guest speakers such as Noam Chomsky and Arundhati Roy. The building's design has been praised by architectural critics, including Paul Goldberger and Nikolaus Pevsner, for its innovative use of space and materials, similar to the works of Renzo Piano and Norman Foster. As a centre for student life, it has been compared to other notable student unions, such as the University of California, Berkeley's ASUC and the University of Oxford's Oxford Union. The centre has also hosted events in collaboration with organizations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations.

● History

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre was made possible through a generous donation from Saw Swee Hock, a Singaporean businessman and LSE alumnus, who has also supported other institutions such as the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. The building's construction was overseen by Mace Group, a leading construction company that has worked on projects such as the London 2012 Olympics and the Tate Modern. The centre was officially opened in 2014 by LSE Director Craig Calhoun, in the presence of notable guests including Lord Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Singaporean Ambassador to the UK Foo Chi Hsia. The building's history is also closely tied to the development of the London School of Economics, which was founded by Sidney Webb and Beatrice Webb.

● Architecture

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre's design is characterized by its unique brutalist architecture, which has drawn comparisons to the works of Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer. The building's façade features a distinctive corten steel exterior, similar to the Bilbao Museum designed by Frank Gehry. The centre's interior design has been influenced by the works of Dieter Rams and Charles and Ray Eames, and features a range of sustainable materials, including reclaimed wood and low-carbon concrete. The building's architecture has been recognized with several awards, including the RIBA Stirling Prize and the AJ100 Building of the Year award, which has also been won by notable buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Sydney Opera House.

● Facilities

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre offers a range of facilities, including a theatre with a capacity of over 300 seats, a café serving a variety of food and drinks, and a lounge area with comfortable seating and Wi-Fi access, similar to the facilities found at the University of Cambridge's Student Union and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Student Center. The centre also features a range of meeting rooms and event spaces, which have hosted events featuring notable speakers such as Malala Yousafzai and Kofi Annan. The building's facilities have been designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing for a range of different activities and events to take place, from conferences to workshops and seminars, often in collaboration with organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization.

● Operations

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre is managed by the London School of Economics's Student Union, which is responsible for organizing events and activities, as well as maintaining the building's facilities, in collaboration with other student unions such as the National Union of Students and the University of London Union. The centre is open to all LSE students, as well as staff and alumni, and offers a range of services, including advice and support and career guidance, similar to the services offered by the University of Oxford's Career Service and the Harvard University's Career Services. The centre's operations are overseen by a team of staff, including a building manager and a events coordinator, who work to ensure that the building runs smoothly and efficiently, often in consultation with experts from institutions such as the University of California, Los Angeles and the Columbia University.

● Reception

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre has received widespread critical acclaim for its innovative design and sustainable features, with many praising its unique brutalist architecture and corten steel exterior, similar to the praise received by the Tate Modern and the Gherkin. The building has been recognized with several awards, including the RIBA Stirling Prize and the AJ100 Building of the Year award, which has also been won by notable buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Sydney Opera House. The centre has also been praised by students and staff at the London School of Economics, who appreciate its flexible and adaptable spaces, as well as its range of facilities and services, similar to the facilities and services offered by the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The building's reception has been influenced by the works of notable architects such as Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and has been compared to other notable buildings such as the Fallingwater and the Villa Savoye.

Category:Buildings and structures in London