THE Department of Life SciencES Royal Holloway

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Chestnuts is a restored Victorian building on Royal Holloway’s campus, transformed into a new home for the Department of Life Sciences and the Environment. Once run-down and altered by poor extensions, it has been carefully redesigned to create bright, modern teaching spaces while keeping key original features.

The project focused on energy efficiency and long-term use. Insulation, new windows, and exposed services helped cut CO₂ emissions by 69%, making the building cheaper to run and easier to upgrade in future.

The layout was planned to stay flexible, with open teaching areas, accessible design, and easy-to-use technology. Staff and students were involved throughout the design, helping to create a calm, welcoming space that supports learning, collaboration, and a strong sense of identity.