Construction firm Graham has been lined up to deliver a £284 million (US$374.5 million) estate transformation programme with London Metropolitan University at its Holloway Road campus in London.

The contractor is likely to be appointed as a strategic delivery partner through a comprehensive agreement running until 2031, with an option to extend to 2036. This arrangement will encompass both capital projects and facilities management services across the university’s campuses in Holloway, Aldgate, and Shoreditch. Under this proposed structure, Graham will oversee the delivery of new construction and refurbishment works, while also offering early input on buildability and whole-life performance during the design phase. Following project completion, the contractor will assume responsibility for ongoing facilities management, ensuring an integrated approach to the estate’s long-term operation and efficiency. 

A central priority of the programme is to reduce carbon emissions across the university’s estate, while enhancing the condition, performance, and usability of its existing buildings. The redevelopment is part of London Metropolitan University’s estates strategy, introduced in 2022, which outlines a long-term investment plan extending to 2032. The initiative is intended to tackle ageing infrastructure and deliver modern, adaptable spaces that support contemporary learning.

Central to the proposals is the redevelopment of the Holloway Road campus in Islington. The masterplan, prepared by Design Engine Architects in collaboration with Buro Happold and Gardiner & Theobald, involves removing selected buildings to make way for a new central courtyard. This space will be positioned behind the student building designed by Daniel Libeskind and will be complemented by a full refurbishment of the neighbouring 12-storey tower. At other locations, including the Aldgate campus and the Accelerator building, the emphasis will be on refurbishment and selective improvements, focusing on upgrading existing facilities rather than undertaking complete redevelopment.