2025
Cambridge
The Christ's College, Lasdun Building project represents a significant achievement in modern roofing and restoration excellence, combining technical precision, architectural sensitivity, and environmental responsibility. This project was part of a three-year, three-phase programme led by the main contractor, The Bakers of Danbury.
The Lasdun Building, often referred to as the “Typewriter” due to its distinctive stepped, linear form, provides student accommodation and academic facilities for Christ's College. Designed by the acclaimed architect Sir Denys Lasdun, it is recognised as a Grade II-listed Brutalist structure. As such, the refurbishment demanded a careful balance between modern performance standards and the preservation of the building’s original character.
Project Requirements
Emperor Roofing was tasked with installing the Sika® Decothane® Ultra liquid-applied waterproofing system, a low odour solution with verified performance offering a 20-year warranty. This system was chosen for its proven reliability, flexibility, and ability to conform to complex geometries, making it ideally suited to the Lasdun Building’s intricate design.
Throughout the project, Emperor Roofing collaborated closely with Sika, The Bakers of Danbury, and the college’s project management team to ensure all aspects of the system installation adhered to the strict specifications required for both performance and conservation.The project presented numerous technical, logistical, and operational challenges that demanded careful planning and exceptional teamwork.
The works were completed within a tight summer timeframe, during the student holiday period, ensuring minimal disruption to the college’s operations. The end result is a watertight, visually pleasing, and environmentally progressive roof system that safeguards this historically significant structure for decades to come.
The Lasdun Building is one of Cambridge’s most recognisable Brutalist landmarks, designed by Sir Denys Lasdun between 1968 and 1970. Its unique stepped design, concrete terraces, and integrated water channels exemplify Lasdun’s architectural philosophy of community and connection through spatial design. For Emperor Roofing and Sika, preserving this architectural integrity while delivering a modern waterproofing system was a central objective.
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
Client: Christ's College, Cambridge
Roofing Contractor: Emperor Roofing
Size: 1657m2
The project presented numerous technical, logistical, and operational challenges that demanded careful planning and exceptional teamwork.One of the most significant challenges was site access and material logistics. Located in the historic centre of Cambridge, the roads surrounding the Lasdun Building are narrow and heavily trafficked, restricting the ability to deliver large volumes of materials or equipment. Emperor Roofing therefore implemented a phased delivery plan, coordinating smaller, more frequent deliveries to maintain a continuous supply of materials without disrupting other trades or local traffic.
Extensive scaffolding, both to provide safe access and to accommodate the complex roof geometry was also required and had to be installed and dismantled in a way that did not damage the historic façade or obstruct key working areas.
The building’s architectural complexity also added to the difficulty. The roof incorporates deep channels and integrated gutters which form an essential part of Lasdun’s design. These channels were critical to the structure’s drainage and therefore had to be detailed and waterproofed with exceptional precision. Any imperfections could compromise the flow of water between levels.
