Recall the late 19th century. The Cruciform Building rises majestically before you. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse, it replaced the earlier University College Hospital.
Waterhouse, known for his Victorian gothic revival style, completed this building in 1906. Sadly, it was a year after his death. The Cruciform Building stands as his last major work.
Originally, this was the University College Hospital. It was founded in 1834 as the North London Hospital. Alfred Ainger designed that earlier structure. The hospital became University College Hospital in 1837.
Ainger extended the hospital from 1838 to 1846. However, by 1896, a new building was needed. Waterhouse designed the Cruciform Building for the same site.
Some found the building’s aesthetics less pleasing than his other works. One critic described it as an asymmetrical complex. It featured towers, angles, and jutting “bits”. Yet, its design suited its purpose well.
The Cruciform’s diagonal plan ensured light and ventilation. This was crucial for patient well-being. The wards were stacked on four storeys. Support facilities were located on a podium below.
Each wing of the Cruciform Building opened separately. The final construction cost reached £200,000. Waterhouse chose durable materials. He used hard red brick and terracotta dressings. These proved more resilient in polluted Victorian London.
Inside the Cruciform Building, practical materials were used. Terrazzo, mosaic, and wood block covered the floors. Glazed bricks lined the walls. Marble adorned the formal outpatients’ entrance.
The hospital closed in 1995. University College London purchased the building. A £50 million renovation followed. This transformed it into the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research. It also became a teaching facility for UCL Medical School.
The renovation uncovered original features. Arcades in the central area were revealed. Glazed brickwork, once plastered over, was exposed. The restoration brought light and spatial awareness back to the building’s core.
During World War I, the children’s ward transformed. It became a ward for wounded servicemen. Tile panels depicting nursery rhymes were covered. They were deemed unsuitable for the military. These tiles were rediscovered during the UCL renovations.
Margaret E Thompson signed several of the tile panels. All are clearly her work. Clear Perspex now covers the panels. This protects laboratory technicians from potentially harmful rays. Some pigments used in the early 1900s contained radioactive material.
The Cruciform Building also houses the combined Medical Schools. These belong to University College London, The Royal Free, and Middlesex Hospitals. The building includes lecture theaters, a library, and a video teaching center.
Today, the Cruciform Building stands as a testament to Victorian architecture. It has adapted to serve new generations of students and researchers. Its history echoes through its halls. It remains a vital part of University College London.