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Archives and Special Collections Centre supports the LCC 'Topping Out' Ceremony

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Close up of a compilation of historic prospectuses from London College of Communication Archive. The prospectuses in the photo are from the 1960s and 1970s, some are quite brightly coloured with strong graphic designs
Close up of a compilation of historic prospectuses from London College of Communication Archive. The prospectuses in the photo are from the 1960s and 1970s, some are quite brightly coloured with strong graphic designs
Section from our London College of Communication archive display showing reproductions of historic LCC prospectuses throughout the years. Scanned by Echo Zheng and compiled by Sagar Bhat, with thanks.
Written by
Sarah Mahurter Published date
31 October 2024

Earlier this month work reached a new milestone for the new building at Elephant & Castle. The Archives and Special Collections Centre supported London College of Communication celebrations.

‘Topping Out’ means that the building has now reached the full height of its construction. It is due to open in September 2027.

Special guests attended the ceremony on Monday 7th October. Mayor of Southwark Naima Ali and Councillor Martin Seaton kindly attended. UAL Interim President Vice-Chancellor Karen Stanton lead proceedings. LCC Head of College Kene Igweonu spoke. It also included representatives from project partners Delancey, Multiplex and Get Living.

Two women of colour speaking in the foreground with a patchwork image display in the background
Mayor of Southwark Naima Ali speaks to Maureen Salmon, Associated Dean of Knowledge Exchange at LCC, at the reception, with the archive display in the background. Photograph by Mitsi Moulson

Guests visited the 10th floor of the new LCC building. After this everyone came to LCC’s current building for a welcome reception in the Well Gallery.

There was time to explore items from UAL's Archives and Special Collections Centre.

A wall display reproduced archival items featuring 100 years of LCC prospectuses (1898-1998). It showed how the colleges (that make up the history of LCC) and their names and locations changed. The prospectuses also reflected design changes throughout the 20th Century.  It has been at the forefront of design, printing and communications. The new building will continue to showcase the College’s strengths when it opens  in 2027.

The display in the search room focused on original archival items from this building's opening in 1964. It included the Opening Ceremony Booklet, also reproduced on the wall in the Well Gallery. It also showed images of the construction site. It featured plans of the building, shared with the local Council at that time.

Young woman with two older people looking at archive material
Two visitors who met as students at LCC, at the time it opened at Elephant & Castle, attended the Topping Out ceremony. Archivist Georgina Orgill shows them material from LCC's archive in the ASCC Search Room. Photograph by Mitsi Moulson

Dinner invitations and posters created by the designer Tom Eckersley were on display. As were posters for bands including The Who. The vibrant student life will continue into the next chapter of the College.

Poster designed by Tom Eckersley featuring photographs
LCP Open Days poster designed by Tom Eckersley, who taught at the college. From the Tom Eckersley archive, held at ASCC, Archive Ref: TE/2/1/5/ii

We were delighted to show the archival materials to the alumni who remembered the opening. It was also great to see the architects for the new building, who were fascinated to see the early planning documents.

Colourful booklet celebrating the new building for London College of Communication
UAL Publication celebrating the new building for London College of Communication

To ensure that the record of the College continues for future generations, the Topping Out ceremony booklets were collected and accessioned to the LCC Archive.

Find out more

For any questions about Archives and Special Collections, please email archive-enquiries@arts.ac.uk