Firoz Lalji Global Hub

We partnered with McLaren Construction to deliver a series of detailed 3D animations and design visualisations for the redevelopment of the Firoz Lalji Global Hub at the London School of Economics – the university’s first net zero carbon building. This ambitious project will bring together the Firoz Institute for Africa, the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics, the LSE Agora, and a striking atrium, all designed to serve and connect the global academic community.

Our work centred on creating a full construction methodology animation, developed from the demolition phase through to the final stages of the build. This animation captured the complex construction sequencing of a busy central London site, providing clarity and precision for contractors, stakeholders, and planners. Every stage was carefully modelled and timed to reflect the real-life build schedule, ensuring our visuals served as more than just illustrations – they were planning tools.

To complement the core animation, we also produced several micro animations that highlighted key logistical and construction moments across the site. These included the delivery and movement of materials through constrained urban routes, the detailed installation of prefabricated windows and MVHR units, insulation layering, roof build-up, and skylight installation. We created a 3D Google Street View-style animation to visualise access and egress routes around the live student environment, demonstrating how construction would coexist safely with ongoing campus activity.

These animations played a crucial role in the project by communicating how disruption would be minimised and site safety maintained. They enabled the construction team to foresee challenges, refine methodology, and reassure LSE stakeholders of the project’s coordination with the daily rhythm of university life.

Our approach goes beyond visualisation – it provides a strategic advantage. Through technically accurate, narrative-led animation, we helped translate complexity into clarity, supporting a seamless build in a sensitive, high-traffic environment. This is where Unbuilt excels: making the future of the built environment both visible and understandable.