The refurbished campus will host Fashion, Textiles and Fine Art, creating a new creative community in the heart of Shoreditch.
Date: 19 September 2025
London Metropolitan University welcomed local partners, stakeholders, staff and graduates last night to mark the reopening of its refurbished Shoreditch campus.
The campus, home to the School of Art, Architecture and Design, has been transformed as part of the University’s wider Estates Strategy. It now houses Fashion, Textiles and Fine Art courses, establishing a new creative learning community in this vibrant district of London.
The refurbished spaces were brought to life by the opening exhibition. Visitors entered a light-filled atrium with banners celebrating the achievements of recent graduates suspended from the ceiling. Across the space, intricate textile works were displayed alongside, creating a vivid showcase of graduate work.
The event was opened by Anne Markey, Dean of the School of Art, Architecture and Design, who welcomed guests before introducing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julie Hall. Professor Hall praised the efforts of the Estates team for delivering the refurbished campus on time for the start of term:
"We are delighted to welcome colleagues, partners and graduates back into our Shoreditch campus. The work undertaken to refurbish these spaces has been exceptional, and I want to thank our Estates team for their dedication.
"This project is about more than new facilities. It speaks to our role as a civic university, opening our doors to the city, supporting our communities and creating opportunities for the people of London. Shoreditch has always been an important part of London Met’s story, and this investment ensures we continue to play a central role in the cultural and educational life of East London."
The event also heard from Sem Moema, London Assembly Member for North East London, which includes Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest. Praising London Met’s work in her constituency, she said:
"London Met is doing fantastic work in widening access to education, supporting creativity and giving back to the communities it serves. Its values of inclusion and social justice really shine through, and that matters for places like Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest where so many of its students live and work. This campus is a real asset for Shoreditch and East London, and I’m delighted to join in celebrating its reopening. London needs institutions like London Met to thrive, not just for students but for the communities they are part of."
Adding a graduate perspective, Ricardo Burt, who completed a Fashion Textiles BA earlier this year, reflected on how his time at London Met had prepared him for the future:
"The fashion industry is in a challenging place right now, and integrity is key. What I valued most about my degree was being given the space to explore why I was doing something, and how purpose translates into design, whether in fashion, furniture or anything else.
"Since graduating, I’ve been taking time to upskill through tailoring courses and assisting stylists and magazines, and those foundations continue to guide me. For me, this refurbished campus represents a shift in design education. It is not just about teaching skills, but about instilling values that help students stand out. I’m proud to be part of that and excited for the next generation who will learn here."
The celebration comes in a year of growing national recognition for London Met. The University was ranked first in the UK for student value-added in the Guardian University Guide 2026 and named Runner-up University of the Year for Social Inclusion in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Looking ahead - refreshing our estate
The refurbished Shoreditch campus is just one part of London Met’s ambitious Estates Strategy. The facility spans four floors, each space crafted with bespoke fixtures, high-quality fittings and specialist equipment to support Fashion, Textiles and Fine Art. Studios and workshops have been purpose-built to give students the professional environments they need to develop their practice and showcase their creativity.
It is one of several projects that will come to fruition over the next academic year, with new and reimagined facilities across Aldgate, Shoreditch and Holloway. Together, these investments will create cutting-edge spaces that strengthen London Met’s role as a civic university at the heart of the city.
Pic: L to R - Sem Moema AM, Professor Julie Hall, and Ricardo Burt