Studio 6 Retrofit, London Centre for Book Arts

U-Build returned to Fish Island to install new retrofit elements to the LCBA space. Through the addition of modular boxes and natural insulation, thermal efficiency, acoustics and storage were enhanced with future adaptability in mind.

LCBA by U-Build. Photo credit, Marco Kesseler 2025.

U-Build Retrofit, Studio 6 LCBA.

LBCA Studio 6 Additions - Thermal Imaging, U-Build 2025.

In 2025, we gladly returned to the London Centre for Book Arts (LCBA) to retrofit Studio 6 of the space and help regulate the building’s temperature through additional U-Build shelving. This project marked the second iteration of our work with the LCBA, following our first commercial fit-out of the old factory space in 2022.

Using a selection of our standard boxes alongside custom floor adjustments, we added natural insulation to improve the acoustics, spatial flow and temperature control.

To add storage, we installed our inverted box shelving system that doubles up as both wall partition and practical furniture elements. The configuration of boxes, which arrived flat-packed and were easily assembled, offer a reliable solution for books, fabric rolls, and anything else that needs to be neatly displayed or tucked away. The hollow boxes were filled with natural Thermafleece insulation, enhancing the acoustics and aiding the efficient management of temperature fluctuation.

Using thermal imaging technology for the first time, we were able to visually capture the success of this thermal efficiency of the modular U-Build system specifically for internal fit-outs.

Since completing phase two of the LCBA fit-out, the studio’s organic growth and the success of the new layout were featured in TOAST Magazine. The piece highlights how the reimagined space has allowed LCBA to expand its community programs, host creative workshops, and run a dedicated library and gallery in what was once a single empty room. It is rewarding to see how our modular structures continue to support their craft and community.

Browse other completed U-Build Commercial Fit-Out and Interior Design projects for inspiration. Hoping to enhance your space? Email us to begin an enquiry.