Higher education

Universities and higher education institutions are leading the way in the built environment, setting ambitious sustainability targets. We’re privileged to be exploring innovative routes to achieve net zero carbon – and more – with our education clients.  

Our expert teams develop a bespoke approach to sustainable design specific to each client. Wherever we can we conserve, adapt and retrofit existing buildings to save significant embodied carbon. We’re known for our work in offsite modular construction – as standard we consider incorporating MMC and DfMA into every design to reduce embodied carbon, and save time and cost. And our sustainability-led landscape architects, interior designers, and Passivhaus designers work to support significant reductions in whole life carbon across every project. 

We leverage research, digital innovations and sustainable practices to push the boundaries of education design, and preserve our built heritage, promote sustainability and adaptability, and deliver healthy, resilient and energy efficient spaces. 

New and improved university buildings and campuses inherently create social value for their students, staff and local communities. Our socially conscious design process delivers long term positive social impact far beyond this inherent value. 

Through meaningful, continuous stakeholder engagement – from early project stages through to post-occupancy – we design inclusive places that truly benefit all students and staff. We forge links with local communities, and create opportunities for businesses and industry. 

HLM’s thoughtful design approach ensures that every project in our diverse education portfolio is sustainable, healthy, welcoming and inclusive – for today, and for future generations. 

For over 25 years HLM has been at the forefront of changing pedagogical design in response to new ways of teaching and learning that focus on student experience. 

In collaboration with leading UK universities, our education specialists and R&D team have developed a series of pilot projects to evaluate different environments and technologies to support evolving change in teaching methods and practices. These projects are based on a taxonomy of active learning where students learn key skills needed in the modern workplace. 

Our design solutions encourage student engagement and collaborative working, fostering confident, skilled and highly valued students in our knowledge-based society. 

Our specialist masterplanning team works with university estates to identify strategic opportunities to create better quality, sustainable, adaptable and efficient places of learning. Education estates that attract and support the highest calibre of students and staff, and create new connections to local communities and businesses. 

We investigate how learning spaces need to respond to changing academic needs, or student expectations. We celebrate existing heritage buildings to bring them up to contemporary sustainability standards to extend lifespan and design in future flexibility. 

Our strategic masterplans develop frameworks for future campus development, looking at how existing facilities can generate value and act as catalysts for redevelopment. We analyse space usage to create more cohesive facilities, while developing integrated infrastructure, improving public realm and strengthening connections to nature. 

Student accommodation has an essential role to play in the student experience. Student living environments will define the university experience for a lot of students, having a profound effect on feelings around wellbeing, mental health, and security. 

HLM’s goal is always to design and deliver a range of living accommodation that creates a diverse and vibrant student community; an enriching ‘home from home’ experience that offers value for money, is adaptable, accessible and promotes wellbeing. A home that enables students to thrive personally, socially and academically.