University of Greenwich appoints McLaren Construction for listed building refurbishment and new build at Devonport House

McLaren Construction has been formally appointed by the University of Greenwich, part of the LASE group, for the major refurbishment and extension of the Grade II listed Devonport House Hotel as its first project under a major works framework.

The works to Devonport House, designed by lead architect Stride Treglown, will create a new teaching facility in the heart of the University’s Greenwich estate. The building will provide flexible teaching and learning spaces that can be used by schools and faculties across the University, while also providing a new home for the Greenwich Business School.

Education space will include flexible teaching, collaborative learning rooms and technology enabled environments where students, businesses and researchers can work together on live challenges. The space will include two lecture theatres, informal study areas, student services and offices.

Devonport House interior. Image © Stride Treglown

Grade II Devonport House was built in the 1920s as a nurses’ home and continued in that role until 1995. It was purchased by the University of Greenwich in 1996 and by 2001 the eastern part had been redeveloped as a hotel. It occupies a sensitive location alongside the Grade I listed National Maritime Museum and within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site and Greenwich Park Conservation Area.

Extensive refurbishment of Devonport House will recondition the former hotel to a high standard, retaining historic features, such as the Churchill Room and two historic staircases, and creating a highly efficient and sustainable building.

A contemporary extension, sensitively connected to the original building via a glazed atrium, will replace the former hotel conference centre that was added in the 1990s. The atrium will be a dynamic space, with informal seating areas for students and staff and views of the historic façade. Much of the ground floor will be open to the public, featuring a welcoming café as well as the outside space with new landscape works and sitting areas which will also be available for the wider public to take advantage of.

Devonport House will be net zero carbon for heating and targets BREEAM Excellent. The landscape proposals will create new, welcoming green spaces for students, visitors and the local community. Increased planting and biodiversity will create green corridors and wildlife habitats, with new squares, seating and improved pedestrian routes in place of the current car parking area.

As part of the University’s extensive capital programme, the Devonport House project will contribute to the University’s aspiration to create modern, functional and inspiring learning environments across its campuses, while preserving and celebrating the heritage value and character of its historic buildings.

Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor and CEO at the University of Greenwich commented: “The responsible reimaging of Devonport House will create a vibrant hub for our staff and students with state-of-the-art teaching facilities, all in a truly unique setting.

“We are excited that the new building offers spaces where the public and the university community will be welcome and allow for the opening up of an area of Greenwich that has been underutilised for too long.”

McLaren Construction’s MD for London & South, Darren Gill, said: “Higher education is investing heavily in its estate to compete for students and provide the modern and sustainable learning environments they expect.

“The University of Greenwich is blessed with some of London’s most iconic historic buildings. That’s quite a draw for students, but it’s also a heavy responsibility. The challenge is in offering world class education facilities while maintaining and conserving key elements of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.”

McLaren has been on site conducting enabling works in partnership with the university since December 2024 under a pre-construction services agreement. The building is expected to welcome staff, students, visitors and the wider public from the 2028/29 academic year, marking the next chapter in the transformation of Devonport House.

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