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For decades, Sabbatical Officers at Students' Union UCL have been championing the need for a dedicated Students’ Union home. Now, with UCL council support secured for initial RIBA Stages 1–3, work will begin on detailed design development and the preparation of a planning application. This work will begin in Term 1 of 2026/26 and take about 2 years.
As our community has continued to grow, the need for a central student space has become more important than ever.
“For students, feeling that you belong can make all the difference. The Students’ Union building will be a place where students can come together, build community, find support, and make lasting memories. It represents an investment in student life and in creating a welcoming home where every student can feel connected, empowered, and valued.”
Anam Choudhary, President, Students’ Union UCL
So, what's the plan?
The preferred site is 25 Gordon Street (our current home), right in the heart of the Bloomsbury Campus. If realised, this would mean a central space for student life at UCL: a place to socialise, get involved in societies and activities, access support, and feel at home in London. Meaning we could bring more students together.
The proposal reflects a shared ambition between UCL and Students' Union UCL to invest in the student experience and follows years of advocacy from successive Sabbatical Officer teams who have championed the need for a building that better reflects the scale and diversity of student life here.
This project is part of UCL’s Strategic Plan 2022-2027 and part of UCL’s Estates Strategy. Meaning the proposed building will form a part of a broader, long-term approach to improving campus experience across UCL, with student experience and academic excellence driving the investments UCL makes across your campuses and buildings.
Anastasija Boikova, Activities and Engagement Officer, Students’ Union UCL, said:
“For nearly 70 years, sabbatical officers at Students’ Union UCL have been trying to secure a dedicated space where students can run activities, make friends and feel at home in London. This is a huge step towards making that happen.”
What does this mean for you?
Right now, no immediate changes. The project is in early planning stages and there’s a lot of work to do. Whilst no decision has been made to proceed to construction, this is the first step towards that milestone. As the project progresses, we'll be asking for your input to ensure that our potential new home reflects you and what you and future UCL students need. This could include flexible spaces that support some teaching and academic activity where appropriate, to ensure the building is used as much as possible and valued by our whole community.
Ultimately, this project is about creating a space that students can truly call their own, and that can support the incredible things they do.