Plowden Building
Education
About This Project
Whitestar were contacted to provide a complete electrical refurbishment of the London Business School’s three storey Plowden Building, including electrical design & installation, data infrastructure, exposed lighting, and power systems.
Whitestar were contacted to provide a complete electrical refurbishment of the London Business School’s three storey Plowden Building, including electrical design & installation, data infrastructure, exposed lighting, and power systems.
The project
Summary
- 17,925 site hours
- 113,920 meters (70 miles) data cabling
- 54,880 meters (33 miles) electrical cabling
- 925 specialist architectural light fittings
- Premium decorative and feature luminaires
- Optelma linear and quad systems
- iGuzzini track and spotlight solutions
- LV panels and UPS systems
Overview
Opened in 1965 and recognised globally as a leading institution in business education, London Business School is investing in its next 60 years through an ambitious regeneration programme. As part of this, Whitestar has partnered with the school for over 14 years, upgrading and future-proofing their buildings.
The Plowden Building project was a key part of this regeneration. The student space has been transformed into a vibrant and accessible space for collaboration, development and wellbeing. Spanning four floors and a basement, the space now includes lounges, classrooms, meeting and study rooms, a wellbeing centre and a modern cafeteria.
Whitestar was responsible for the full electrical scope of the project. As the building was 60 years old with outdated infrastructure, our team undertook a complete trip-out back to a shell, followed by a full reinstallation. This included new risers, upgraded distribution systems, and the installation of lighting, power, containment, and data infrastructure across all levels.
A standout feature of this project was the exposed ceiling design, which demanded exceptional precision. With varying ceiling heights, beams, and structural features, every wire had to be cut, painted and installed perfectly, ensure both performance and a high-quality finish.
Despite a 10-week delay at the outset due to an issue outside of our control – and only four weeks gained back – we completed this 30-week project in only 24 weeks (starting mid-January and ending mid-June).
The Plowden Building is now open to students, providing a modern, flexible and inspiring environment for their business-focused education.
”“No matter what I or we throw at Whitestar, I can rely on the team to deliver a working network with the minimum of fuss. That’s a massive win for me. Their calm, professional approach under pressure means I don’t have to worry, micro-manage, or intervene. I can trust them and focus on everything else.
“Thanks to the data team – and Shane and Deano especially – for staying calm no matter how hard I tried to ruin their day! John was always helpful whenever I needed something, with just the right balance of gravitas, frustration, and concern – perfect for LBS.
“Once again, thanks for a great job.”
Martin Macleod-Brown, London Business School