Charles Clore House in Bedford Way

Development and Future planning

The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies occupies 8 floors of Charles Clore House, part of the listed Grade II* Bedford Way building designed by Sir Denys Lasdun (1914-2001).

The Institute has major plans to refurbish its building and continues to improve and modernise current facilities, such as further development of the popular coffee bar and café facility. It is hoped that these developments will make the building more attractive, and enhance the importance of the Institute as a meeting place for researchers and students.

A programme of work was completed in 2005 to ensure access and usability of the building for the disabled, including the refurbishment of all toilet facilities.

A wireless Internet access ( wiALS ) service came into operation at the start of October 2006 throughout the library, in seminar and lecture rooms, and the café of the Institute.

The Library lift was sucessfully refurbishment early in 2007 and a remodelled Electronic Legal Research Unit was established on the Library's 4th floor.

Audio-visual presentation equipment was also successfully installed in each of the conference, seminar and teaching rooms.

The main building lifts were refurbished in 2008 and additional mobile shelving was installed in the reading room on floor L2.

In 2009 new signage was installed in the Institute.

In 2012 a major programme of refurbishment work is being planned for the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies which is scheduled to update facilities and building infrastructure at 17 Russell Square over several years. This year, from May to September 2012, the improvement work will be concentrated on floor L1 and on the Ground floor and includes important development of the entrance area and expansion of the Institute's own café and social spaces. IALS and IALS Global Law Library will be open as usual during the refurbishment, with some temporary adjustment of entry ways as work requires. Details will be posted as they become available.

IALS Stategic Plan 2007-2012 (PDF)

  • Maintenance and major refurbishment of Charles Clore House for the Institute and its Library
  • Lease of additional basement space in any new building developed on the adjoining vacant University plot in Russell Square
  • Development of library facilities, collection and support
  • Endowment of visiting professorships, fellowships and scholarships
  • Endowment of bursaries for home and foreign students
  • Development of IT and electronic resources
  • Establishment, endowment and support of existing and new research centres
  • Support for and endowment of existing and future senior academic appointments
  • Support for the Society of Advanced Legal Studies and its objectives
  • Fundraising