Devon House, London

Boston-based Northeastern University aimed to expand its global network, leading to the creation of the New College of the Humanities (NCH @ Northeastern). The brief required flexible learning and workspaces, a new entrance, and a central staircase connecting the ground floor to the first floor.

Light reflects off shiny materials and rope-type feature lighting, paying homage to Devon House’s location in St. Katharine Docks. This setup subtly references water reflections and the ropes used for mooring ships. The bespoke staircase with bleacher seating and step lighting serves as a central visual accent. The team repurposed existing light fixtures and adjusted linear layouts to provide suitable lighting for teaching spaces with flexible setups and foldable glass partitions. They highlighted plantings with small lighting spots. Additionally, seating, breakout spaces, and meeting rooms received extra decorative lights to reflect the vibrant atmosphere of this collaborative hub.