Transforming the Great Hall
The Great Hall is undergoing a bold transformation. Find out more about the past, present and future of this iconic space at the heart of our South Kensington Campus.
The Great Hall was built as part of the College Block, now known as the Sherfield Building, in the late 1960s. The construction was part of Imperial's post-war expansion scheme, which aimed to help Imperial meet the scientific and technological challenges of the 20th century.
The Great Hall under construction in the 1960s.
The Great Hall under construction in the 1960s.
The new buildings were opened on 27 November 1969 by Queen Elizabeth II. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the opening of the building during her visit, Her Majesty The Queen said that Imperial was one of the few universities chosen as “the spearhead of a selected attack on the problem of providing more university educated scientists and engineers” in the post-war era.
Queen Elizabeth II and Lord Sherfield, Chairman of the Governing Body, at the opening of the College Block in 1969.
Queen Elizabeth II and Lord Sherfield, Chairman of the Governing Body, at the opening of the College Block in 1969.
The Queen added: “In this you have been outstandingly successful, for you have grown not only in size but also in distinction as you have discharged the responsibility laid upon you. What is more, you have done much as you have grown to bring the pure and the applied sciences together.”
The hall has also had some famous visitors in the past playing host to gigs by Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Status Quo and David Bowie amongst others. There have been a number of talks by eminent speakers such as Professor Stephen Hawking and Professor Brian Cox, as well as politicians Shirley Williams, Tony Benn and John Smith. An episode of the political debating programme, Question Time, was filmed in the hall in 2004. More surprisingly, it has also been the venue for badminton and wrestling tournaments.
On 12 February 1972, David Bowie performed in the Great Hall, kick-starting his UK tour. At the time, tickets cost just 50p. Our students had no idea they were witnessing rock history, as Bowie made one of his first appearances as his iconic alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.
Professor Stephen Hawking gave a lecture in the Great Hall in 2016.
Professor Stephen Hawking gave a lecture in the Great Hall in 2016.
The BBC filmed an episode of Question Time in the Great Hall in 2004.
The BBC filmed an episode of Question Time in the Great Hall in 2004.
The Great Hall is frequently used for concerts, like this one in 2014.
The Great Hall is frequently used for concerts, like this one in 2014.
Many Imperial students have graduated in the Great Hall.
Many Imperial students have graduated in the Great Hall.
The Great Hall is also used for special events, like this dinner in 2024.
The Great Hall is also used for special events, like this dinner in 2024.
Redeveloping the Great Hall
A major project to redevelop the Great Hall began in April 2025. This will create a more flexible space, so that it can be used for large events for up to 600 people, or converted into three individual lecture theatres.
Innovative partitions, retractable seating and state of the art AV and acoustic technology will allow the Great Hall to quickly transform from orchestral venue to versatile teaching space, providing both world-class learning and performing environments.
The new space will also be a venue for Friday prayers, with a new storage area for prayer mats. This is an extension of Imperial’s commitment to facilitate prayer for students and staff.
Accessibility
A centrepiece of the redevelopment plans is accessibility. The redevelopment is included in Imperial’s partnership with AccessAble, which aims to ensure everywhere on campus is fully accessible.
A new lift is being installed for wheelchair access, and all new spaces will be fully accessible. The stage in the hall will also be wheelchair accessible. In addition, brand new fully accessible toilets will replace the existing dated facilities.
The three new teaching areas will have their own hearing loops installed as part of the new AV system, and these systems can be combined for when the hall is being used as a single space.
The decor in the hall, and the new teaching spaces, will comply to building standards for visual contrast.
Sustainability
A fundamental pillar of this project is sustainability. As with all current construction projects at Imperial, we recognise the potential to drive towards our net zero carbon goals through energy-efficient and climate-resilient design and sustainable construction practices. This redevelopment lets us transform an under-occupied space into a flexible and adaptable area.
The project is seeking to demonstrate high levels of sustainability through a BREEAM refurbishment assessment that will ensure the efficient use of materials which contain low levels of carbon and a high proportion of recyclable material. Sustainable timber, which is grown and harvested from responsibly managed forests, will create an environment with calming and natural surfaces.
The new environmental control systems, and lighting, will reduce energy consumption by adjusting to respond to occupancy levels, and control features on sanitary installations will reduce water use.
Fundamentally this project is all about sustainability, as the project re-purposes a currently underused space, reducing the need for Imperial to build, and operate, new spaces with all the environmental consequences that this entails. Imperial’s commitment to ensuring the most effective use of its existing estate is where it can make the greatest contribution to tackling the climate emergency.
Minimising disruption
As with any of our large scale construction projects, we are putting a great deal of care into contingency plans to minimise disruption to our community. We are working closely with the contractors to identify any upcoming periods of noisy work, so we can forewarn building users and mitigate the disturbance for those who are most affected. Contractors have their own entrance to the site, and dust control measures are in place.
Around the Great Hall
As part of the redevelopment, we will work to optimise the flow of people in the space around the Greal Hall and reduce congestion in one of our South Kensington campus’s main thoroughfares.
The area behind the Great Hall will be upgraded with booth seating, tables and information screens on levels two and three. The circulation area on level three will be reorganised to provide more space and better connection to level two, as well as more natural light.
The Sherfield walkway that runs alongside the hall will be improved, too, with new doors and windows to improve circulation and flood the space with natural light.
A campus for now and the future
The work to refurbish and reimagine the Great Hall is part of the South Kensington Redevelopment programme, a bold transformation for Imperial, guided by the Great Environment pillar of the Enabling Roadmap. This long-term initiative will create world-class physical environments that support discovery, learning and innovation; collaboration and community; and a sustainable, net zero future.
Through this programme, we are modernising our South Kensington Campus to better meet the evolving needs of students, staff, and the wider community, reinforcing our position as a global leader in education, research, and enterprise, and public engagement.
Built with Shorthand