Students and staff of the University of Liverpool gathered on Wednesday, 11 March 2026 to celebrate the opening of the new School of Architecture extension, marking the completion of a major addition to the School’s facilities. The building was formally handed over at the end of January 2026.
The opening event took place in the School’s Exhibition Space, where guests gathered to mark the completion of the project and hear reflections from staff involved in bringing the vision to life.
Following the speeches, attendees were invited to a reception on the new mezzanine level, offering an opportunity for staff, students and project partners to celebrate the occasion together.
The project represents an important milestone in the history of the Liverpool School of Architecture, which was first founded in 1894. The University of Liverpool is currently ranked 10th in the UK for Architecture in the Guardian University Guide and in the world top 100 in the prestigious QS World University Rankings.
The new space provides students with cutting edge teaching and research facilities, including virtual reality and digital design suites, collaborative workspaces and a dedicated exhibition area designed to showcase student work.
Head of Liverpool School of Architecture, Professor Ola Uduku (pictured top) said: “It is wonderful to be able to showcase our fantastic new facilities to the wider university community. We are extremely proud to have a space which gives our large, multi‑programme student population – from BA students right up to PhD students – a world-class space to work and study in.”
Designed by Irish-based architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, the extension has been carefully integrated with the School’s historic building, creating modern teaching and collaboration spaces while respecting the character of the existing campus.
The build was carried out by the University of Liverpool Construction Company (ULCCO).
Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones (pictured above, centre) said: “I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this building. Projects of this scale and complexity involve a huge number of people, and it’s something we can all be proud of now and in the years to come.
“I hope this becomes a truly vibrant home for architecture and a shared space for the whole university – a place where people come to visit, to study, and to conduct research, and that it helps our university’s reputation continue to grow.”
The extension marks an exciting new chapter for the School, creating inspiring spaces that will support creativity, collaboration and innovation for years to come.
Photography by Martin Winchester, University of Liverpool