Case Study

Royal Holloway of London –
Engineers Cottage

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LST was appointed by the University to deliver new, state-of-the-art music recording facilities at its Egham campus, supporting the institution’s ambition to enhance its creative arts offering.

The project involved the careful refurbishment of the ‘Engineers Cottage’, a listed building located within the Boilerhouse complex towards the south of the campus. The building, steeped in heritage, required a sensitive approach to modernisation to preserve its historic character while introducing high-performance spaces for student use.

Internally, the building was fully stripped out and thoughtfully reconfigured to house three high-quality recording studios, each acoustically treated to industry standards. A spacious 25ft live lounge was also created, providing a flexible, purpose-built environment for bands, orchestras, and live performances. The facilities now offer students and staff a professional and inspiring space to record, rehearse, and develop their musical talents.

Externally, the historic façade of the listed building was carefully rejuvenated. The brickwork was meticulously cleaned and patched, and the roof tiles were repaired to protect the structure for years to come. A particular highlight of the restoration was the intricate work to the Victorian chimneys, which included specialist repairs to the delicate architectural mouldings to ensure their longevity and visual integrity.

The project presented a number of logistical challenges, with the site compound located within a tightly constrained area at the heart of the busy, live campus. This required a highly coordinated construction programme, detailed planning, and close communication with the University to minimise disruption. Ensuring the safety of students, staff, and visitors was an absolute priority throughout the works, with strict adherence to safety protocols and robust site management in place at all times.

Thanks to collaborative working and careful planning, LST successfully delivered a high-quality learning and performance space that will support the University's music department for years to come.

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“We are delighted to offer enhancement to our heritage assets as custodians of the estates, whilst implementing sustainability and technological advancement to support future education and teaching needs.”
Piers Long, Deputy Director of Estates, Royal Holloway University London