The Great Environment Transformation Portfolio is creating the capacity, infrastructure and campus environment Imperial needs to enable academic growth. The strategic roadmap sets out how investment in our estate, services and digital capability will build capacity over time, from early improvements that create capacity now, through to major new teaching, research and collaboration spaces and the longer term transformation of how Imperial uses its campuses.

The roadmap at a glance

+576

extra teaching seats in South Kensington by autumn 2027

+3,268

extra teaching seats in White City by Autumn 2031

1:6

improved study space to student ratio by 2036

Our journey to 2030 and beyond

The roadmap brings together work across teaching, study, research, workspaces, student services, digital capability and campus infrastructure.

Each phase builds on the last, creating the foundations for enabling academic growth while delivering benefits along the way.

Phases 1-3

White City Hub

2024-25: Laying the foundations

Early projects focused on creating immediate capacity, improving the campus experience and putting the foundations in place for the wider transformation.

Key areas of activity

  • White City Professional Services Hub opened, creating a new base for Professional Services staff
  • Student space expanded across Sherfield Building Levels 3, 4 and 5
Two students in a group study zone, sitting at a table together on brightly coloured chairs.

2025-26: Strengthening capacity

The portfolio is strengthening the people, plans and capability needed to deliver at greater scale, while major projects continue to move forward. 

Key areas of activity

  • Academic Building business case approved
  • Great Hall transformation progresses through construction and fit-out
  • Faculty Building workspace improvements progress
An architectural render of the entrance to the Great Hall when the redevelopment project is completed

2026-28: Unlocking new capacity

A number of major projects move from planning into delivery, creating new and improved space while changing how students and staff experience our campuses.

Key areas of activity

  • Great Hall reopens as a major shared space for teaching, events and ceremonies
  • Academic Building construction gets under way
  • South Kensington Professional Services Hub opens
  • Study space improvements create further capacity

Phases 4-6

2028-30: Preparing for major growth

As new capacity nears completion, the focus increasingly shifts towards preparing people, services and spaces for the next phase of Imperial's growth.

Key areas of activity

  • Academic Building progresses towards completion, with teams and services preparing for the move
  • Further library and study space capacity becomes available
  • Campus and residential infrastructure develops to support future demand
An architectural render of the academic building after completion looking from the east

2030-31: A step change in capacity

The Academic Building delivers a major increase in teaching, research, study and collaboration capacity at White City, supporting Imperial's next phase of academic growth.

Key areas of activity:

  • Academic Building opens at White City
  • New teaching, research, study and collaboration capacity comes into use
  • Moves create opportunities to use existing space differently across campuses
Aerial image White City Campus

2031 and beyond: Supporting Imperial's future

2030 is not the finish line. The longer term focus will be to build on the capacity created, embed new ways of working and continue adapting Imperial's spaces, services and infrastructure as needs evolve. 

Longer term focus:

  • Manage space more strategically across Imperial
  • Embed data and digital tools in planning, timetabling and utilisation
  • Make greater use of flexible and shared environments
  • Continue to evolve our campuses in line with Imperial's academic growth