Ravensbourne is thrilled to announce that the brand-new ‘Institute for Creativity and Technology’ has opened. The new building is an integral part of the Design District on Greenwich peninsula, providing Ravensbourne students and the local creative community a hub for experimentation. The building ushers in a new era and is the first time Ravensbourne has simultaneously occupied two buildings in its 62-year history.

The ‘Institute for Creativity and Technology’ is a future-focused home of experimentation, connection and collaboration. For the first time, Ravensbourne students will be able to access a building dedicated to postgraduate study and the future of design. Led by a diverse community of ethical thinkers, creators and disruptors, it is a place where hi-tech collides with lo-tech and no-tech. It provides a space to explore new frontiers in cutting-edge design and media practice. Students and staff will be encouraged to explore materials and technologies, utilise rapid prototyping and laser cutting techniques, 3D digital printing and creative coding.

From Spring 2021, the building will be home to a number of innovative departments: Postgraduate study, a practical workshop space, the in-house creative agency CreativeLab, our start-up business program Incubation, an Events hub and our research department. The thriving environment of professional partnerships, industry networks and business incubation will help enrich the culture of innovation that Ravensbourne is renowned for.

Since 2010, Ravensbourne has called the vibrant community on Greenwich Peninsula home. Design District is London’s first ever permanent hub dedicated to the creative industries and has been designed to provide workspace for up to 1,800 people across its 16 buildings. From individual designers and makers to burgeoning start-ups and established studios, the district will house creative enterprises of all sizes and has been designed to encourage interaction, co-working and collaboration –the ingredients of a thriving creative ecosystem.

The stunning institute building complements the growing Design District landscape and is just a short walk from the existing Ravensbourne building. Designed by Barozzi Veiga, the polished aluminium facade of the institute dazzles in the sunlight. The impressive building has been designed with photographers, artists and sculptors in mind; the large windows and high ceilings bathe the space in natural light with views of the peninsula. With striking interior design provided by Brinkworth, the building has already been celebrated by Design Week and will inspire the community that it serves.

Ravensbourne Vice Chancellor, Andy Cook, commented,

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to open this exceptional building. As the Design District continues to attract some of the most exciting creatives in London, we’re thrilled to be in the thick of such an inspiring destination. We’re dedicated to redefining the future of creative higher education and know that the institute is an important step in realising our vision.”