The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons facility provides a high quality environment for undergraduates to work and collaborate in. It is a ‘social information hub’ and public study space which links the Library, Learning Commons and the administrative heart of the campus. The building is not only unique visually, but also in the way in which it operates, offering a comprehensive suite of facilities 24/7 and encouraging creativity and collaboration through social learning. A principal carbon reduction measure for the scheme has been to retain a significant portion of the existing 1960’s building structure. Approximately three quarters of the existing reinforced concrete frame has been retained thus minimizing the resultant embodied energy from any new structure. This has proven to be cost-effective, as well as offsetting the in-use carbon emissions of the completed building achieving a BREEAM HE Excellent rating.