Earlier this month, Governors and staff of the Portal Trust enjoyed a fascinating tour of London College of Fashion (LCF), the UAL’s future campus, currently taking shape at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s new East Bank cultural quarter.

LCF’s new 36,000 square metre site which opens next year, will bring together students and academics currently spread over 6 sites around London, allowing for a more collaborative and accessible experience for students.

Partly funded by a £4 million grant from the Portal Trust, the new campus will be home to the Portal Centre for Social Impact – a new hub that will help enhance LCF’s already outstanding outreach and social impact work.

The Centre will be in a publicly accessible space on the first floor of the new 85.5 metre-high building, giving maximum visibility and helping to further embed social impact in the mission of LCF.

James Purnell, President and Vice-Chancellor of University of the Arts London (UAL), joined the tour along with LCF colleagues and construction managers to discuss the innovative and sustainable design of the building, which is flooded with natural light and will enhance communication and flexible learning. It was fascinating to hear that even after construction had begun, changes were made to the designs in order to embed learning points and changes brought about during the pandemic.

When complete, East Bank will bring together major cultural and educational institutions, including BBC Sounds, V&A East Museum, Sadler’s Wells and University College London. Being in the heart of East London, the new quarter has potential to be a powerhouse for enhancing access and opportunity for young people from some of London’s most deprived communities.

We’re very proud to be an investor in this bold and ambitious project and look forward to seeing the completed building next year.