East Building

What secrets does the East Building hold? Today, we uncover them. The East Building at the London School of Economics wasn’t always destined for greatness. In fact, William Beveridge, LSE’s director in the 1930s, once called it “the last block of buildings I ever really expected to see.” Let’s rewind to the early 20th century. The east side of Houghton Street, where the East Building eventually stood, was a mix of small businesses and the imposing St Clement Danes Grammar School. The school and LSE had a cordial relationship, even borrowing chairs from each other. But in 1927, London County Council proposed moving the grammar school. Beveridge saw an opportunity. He swiftly initiated a valuation of the school building. By 1930, with the help of Rockefeller and Treasury grants, LSE acquired the grammar school site. The East Building began to rise, initially designed to house Lancelot Hogben’s social biology department. This venture was short-lived. Hogben departed in 1937, and the department closed. The East Building’s second phase, completed in 1938, provided a second lecture theatre and squash courts. Its size, however, was compromised by neighboring buildings’ right to light, necessitating a light well that reduced usable space. In 1959, a bridge connected the East Building to the older LSE structures. In 1988, that light well was enclosed, creating a social area for the student union. The East Building at LSE served the university for many years. It witnessed generations of students and faculty pass through its halls. It held lectures, debates, and countless quiet study sessions. It stood as a testament to Beveridge’s ambition and the evolving needs of the LSE.