Consistently ranked among the world’s top institutions for master’s programmes in management and finance, as well as its MBA and PhD offerings, London Business School (LBS) is a leading destination for both domestic and international students. In the middle of the 2024–2025 academic year, LBS undertook a major refurbishment of the Plowden Building at its Sussex Place campus in London, aiming to create a dynamic, multi-functional hub that would serve as the heart of student and community life.
Building on the success of the world-class Collaborative Learning Classroom (CLC1) developed with TeamMate back in 2018, LBS sought to design a new state-of-the-art teaching space as part of the refurbishment programme. To bring this vision to life, GVAV, LBS, and TeamMate collaborated on a dedicated “sandpit” environment, where a range of furniture and AV solutions were trialled and refined in response to extensive stakeholder feedback.
It quickly became clear that users wanted the new space to retain the atmosphere of CLC1 while introducing targeted enhancements – most notably a more advanced AV system and simplified furniture solutions. The final concept centred on a compact, wall-mounted enclosure designed to support dual displays and a broad suite of audiovisual technologies, including touch panels, cable retractors, a switcher, and versatile internal power configurations.
In line with the project brief, a modified version of TeamMate’s Centra Screen Stand was selected after several prototyping stages. Key customisations included a redesigned upper connectivity box to house a Crestron TSW-1070 touch panel, with a cable retractor system installed directly below and mounted within. This system – commonly used in LBS lecterns – allowed users to extend cables only when needed, keeping the worktop as clear and uncluttered as possible.
Each Centra was engineered to support 19″ rack equipment and to integrate with the contractor’s floor-fed conduit power supply. This approach eliminated the need for wall-chased cabling, reducing both installation time and cost. The units were equipped with dual 32″ displays, with those positioned along the room perimeter bolted directly to the wall. In the centre of CLC2, two specially designed back-to-back units were installed to maximise space efficiency, with these freestanding in the middle.
To complete the room and in several other lecture theatres within the Plowden Building, TeamMate supplied LBS with their standard lectern desk design. This featured a bespoke angled housing running the length of the rear worktop, accommodating microphones, the touch panel, power outlets, cable retractor, and a touch-screen monitor in a clean, integrated layout.
The Centra Screen Stand was selected not only for its clean, modern aesthetic—accentuated by a grey fabric front panel—but also for its simple yet highly functional design. Centra enables an efficient installation process that minimises setup time, while its adaptable design allows for subtle customisations that deliver maximum impact. For example, TeamMate developed a bespoke attachment plate enabling the front table to be securely fastened or easily removed from the Centra panel, depending on the room’s functional requirements.
Overall, the room’s design was meticulously planned, with GVAV expertly coordinating the project with all stakeholders and all parties working collaboratively to ensure it retained the familiar layout and atmosphere of CLC1 while further enhancing and streamlining the space. Elsewhere in the building—particularly in the flat-floor and lecture theatre spaces—TeamMate’s highly customised teaching lecterns were also installed, reinforcing consistency in both design quality and user experience across the refurbishment.
Working with Teammate on our new Collaboration Classroom, delivered as part of the Plowden Redevelopment Project, has been an exceptional experience. From the outset, we were looking for a partner who could not only understand our requirements but also bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions. Teammate exceeded those expectations, engaging with us closely on every detail and providing outstanding support throughout the design and implementation process.
What stood out most was the collaborative approach. Having access to Teammate’s design engineers, combined with the opportunity to review 3D renders and detailed drawings, gave us complete confidence that our vision was being realised. Their willingness to adapt and refine the design until we were fully satisfied demonstrated a true commitment to partnership.
The finished space has been a success and is highly praised by users. Teammate’s expertise, flexibility, and guidance helped shape an environment that inspires collaboration and learning while striking the right balance between aesthetics and practicality for support and maintenance. We are delighted with the result and look forward to continuing our partnership.
Tristan Stokes, Media Technologies Manager
London Business School
