The £195m project planned for Middlesex Street near Aldgate Underground Station will involve demolition of a substation and construction of a part 18, 21 and 24 storey building with basement.

Designed by Architecture PLB, the buildings will be brick envelope in alternating buff and dark brick vertical sections to break on the mass of the building with the highest point rising to 87m.

Unite’s client team includes structural engineer Walsh Group with mechanical and electrical and environmental services design provided by Applied Energy. The building is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent (73.80%) rating.

The new building is planned to be completed for the 2021/22 academic year and will be Unite’s first scheme since 2013, when it withdrew from the London market because of soaring land prices. 

Around 280 jobs will be sustained during the construction phase.