Pascall+Watson’s design for a new Student Union at Queen Mary University of London’s Mile End campus provides a bright and refreshing collective Student Union space, designed to bring inclusivity and connectivity to a previously restrictive environment.

Adjacent ongoing construction works meant that QMUL’s existing Draper’s Lounge was to be used as a connection link during the day between campus buildings. However due to the nature of it’s ‘nightclub/bar’ connotations, some users were not able to pass through, and therefore the space was restrictive and not an inclusive student environment. Pascall+Watson worked with QMUL to develop the brief for the new student lounge, which was to brighten the very dark space into a flexible hub for both day and night activities, to create a more welcoming entrance, and to improve security.

Pascall+Watson took inspiration from QMUL’s Student Union’s branding palette to redesign the interior lounge. With a focus on injecting personality and vibrancy into the dark space, the construction has taken a two-phased approach with the full design to be realised in the near future, therefore allowing budgets to be aligned and the appropriate notices to be issued in due course. This demonstrates our value in accommodating phased implementations and working with a university to develop future-proofed proposals.

Capturing wasted space, the new design encompasses an adjacent empty ATM vestibule to open up the Lounge and introduce more daylight. Reinstating previously boarded up glazing, adding increased connectivity to the Student Union shop, as well as improved entrance access all assist in making the space truly inclusive. Flexible furniture proposals for the future phase will work with the infrastructure installed in phase one to provide a space fit for both daytime cafe, seminar and presentation space, as well as its original bar function.