Plans submitted for a 1,944-bed, all-electric student scheme for the London School of Economics (LSE)
Raymond Chandler Library at Dulwich College
As part of a wider net-zero masterplan for the Grade II*-listed Dulwich campus, the completion of the new Raymond Chandler Library marks the first phase in the extensive improvement and redevelopment of the Junior and Lower Schools.
The new library has been thoughtfully designed to adjoin two existing post-war Austin Vernon buildings, which, when fully renovated, will collectively form an open quadrangle and its own sense of place within the larger school campus. The completed development will provide, in addition to a library and information and communication technology (ICT) centre, an art wing, a 225-person hall, a well-being centre, a two-storey administration building, and improved indoor and outdoor play spaces.
The design of the library involved extensive consultation with staff and pupils to ensure that it reflected the needs and uses of today’s pupils, and the result is a mix of flexible, adaptable and welcoming light-filled spaces to learn and meet.
Key information
Architect
alma-nac
Client
Dulwich College
Value
£5.5m
Year of Completion
2024
Location
Dulwich, LondonServices
Sustainability aspirations
A key driver of the project was the college’s strong commitment to sustainability, and we worked closely with them to conduct operational energy and embodied carbon analyses, which enabled the selection of the most efficient and cost-effective carbon reduction measures for the project.
We modelled several design options, including improving fabric, installing heat pumps and the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) to assess their relative carbon contributions. We then worked with the quantity surveyor Quantem to determine the cost-per-tonne of CO2 reduction for the different options.
Aiming for low embodied carbon informed design decisions, such as the inclusion of a timber roof structure, the use of concrete with a high proportion of low-carbon cement replacement, and the use of steel with high recycled content for the ground and first-floor frames, as well as cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the top floor.
Significant effort went into defining the contractors’ on-site procedures to ensure that installations were high-quality and met the project’s ambitious low-energy and low-carbon targets.
The library has already achieved BREEAM Excellent certification, and as a result of an energy and carbon study we undertook with the college, it has been registered as a London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) net-zero carbon pioneer project.
Our project team
Total of 10 people
A fabric and passive-first approach
The environmental strategy for the library adopts a passive-first approach, prioritising a highly insulated and air-tight envelope. Particular attention has been given to minimising thermal bridges and ensuring a continuous air-tightness layer throughout. The reliable, draught-free ventilation uses a low-energy mechanical ducting system with heat recovery. All occupied spaces have been designed with good daylight, which, in addition to providing invigorating learning environments, reduces the need for electric lighting.
Heating is provided using highly efficient air-source heat pumps that utilise low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants. In spaces where mechanical cooling is required, the same heat pumps are used, enabling energy recovery by transferring heat from rooms needing cooling to those requiring heating.
The team scrutinised every point of energy demand to find incremental savings, reducing the energy required to operate the building. Systems such as CCTV, access control, and computer kill switches can be programmed to match usage patterns, also reducing energy waste. A sophisticated building management system (BMS) will provide building managers with a detailed view of where energy is being used, allowing them to identify issues promptly and react effectively.
Image Carousel
Total of 7 images
The entrance to the library is warm, welcoming and light-filled
©Jack Hobhouse
The library is flexible and offers quiet and meeting spaces
©Jack Hobhouse
The light-filled staircase provides a link from the new library to the upper level of the existing Austin Vernon building
©Jack Hobhouse
The reliable, draught-free ventilation uses a low-energy mechanical ducting system with heat recovery
©Jack Hobhouse
The frontage of the new building is an identifiable gatepost to the campus
©Jack Hobhouse
The building provides a welcoming point of entry to the Lower and Junior School
©Jack Hobhouse
The distinctive façade provides visual interest to the street frontage
©Jack Hobhouse
Meeting the aspirations
The new library set an embodied carbon target of 625kgC02/m2. The library surpassed that target at 570kgC02/m2 and has achieved the LETI target of 600kg C02/m2 at A1-A5.
The library has achieved BREEAM Excellent certification and has been awarded the Education Estates Independent School Project of the Year, 2025.
Awards highlights
| 2025 | Education Estates | Project of the Year - Independent Schools |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Education Property Awards | School Project of the Year, Winner |
