Project Details
Project Name: University of Edinburgh Old College
Architect/Designer: Heather Davie
Carpet Tile Products: Connected Ethos, Recreation, Employ Loop, Touch & Tones II, Upon Common Ground
LVT Products: Level Set Collection, Textured Woodgrains
Photography: Paul Zanre
Home to the University of Edinburgh’s prestigious law school for nearly 300 years, the campus’ Old College building needed a major refresh. Its outdated interiors no longer served today’s flexible and collaborative work habits.
“The University of Edinburgh’s Old College is not only one of the capital’s key landmarks but also a listed building. There was a whole set of considerations and huge pressure to transform this space into a showstopper reflective of its global reputation”, says Interface Area Manager, Andrew Reid.
A top priority? Wellbeing. Aided by biophilic design – a practice that strengthens occupants’ connection to the natural world – the refurbishment brings nature into urban settings to enhance staff wellness.
As a pioneer of sustainability in higher education – it was essential that the new design also embodied the university’s commitment to sustainability, circularity, and its net-zero targets. All while preserving the building’s architectural legacy.
Photography: © Paul Zanre; Recreation carpet tile in the colour Draw covers areas in the building’s main working spaces and meeting rooms, complementing the natural textures and tones of the Upon Common Ground collection.
Photography: © Paul Zanre; Upon Common Ground is a biophilic-inspired carpet tile collection honouring the deep connection of Australia’s First Nations people with their homeland. It represents the country’s five key habitats – Desert, Saltwater, Rainforest, Spinifex, and Freshwater.
Photography: © Paul Zanre; The Upon Common Ground collection’s palettes, patterns, and textures imitate natural materials. Colourways like Undulating Water, Shallows, and Sandbank transformed the commercial space within the Old College.
Blending Charm with Contemporary Design
While iconic, the Old College’s traditional layout was built for individual work, not teamwork. The new environment had to accommodate collaboration and diverse work preferences.
To achieve this, the new space included designated areas with large desks in open plan zones and booths for focused work and calls.
Since the space serves many stakeholders – including international guests and partners – it’s professional feel was crucial. But it needed more. A modern edge to appeal to visitors.
The Interface Connected Ethos™ collection delivered. Its biophilic design comprises neutral shades inspired by coastal settings. Reminiscent of natural environments, the installation gives some of the new spaces a sleek appearance while honouring striking features of the historic Old College building.
Interior Designer at the University of Edinburgh Heather Davie, says, “The immediate feedback we had was incredibly positive and we’ve seen a significant increase in employees using the new space rather than opting to work from home.”
Improving Wellbeing with Biophilic Flooring
Flooring was one of the first design elements chosen. In collaboration with the Interface Design Studio, the university’s design team selected the earthy, sea-inspired tones of Interface’s Upon Common Ground™ carpet tile collection to bring calm to workspaces and meeting rooms. This nature-inspired collection served as the foundation for the rest of the design scheme, which included the Recreation™ carpet tile collection and Level Set™ luxury vinyl tile (LVT) collection
The combination of carpet tile and LVT throughout the Old College not only supported the building’s functional needs but also solidified its connection to natural elements. By incorporating textures, shapes and forms that reflect the natural world, the design embodied the biophilic design principles set out in the vision for the space.
Photography: © Paul Zanre, Interface carpet: Connected Ethos, Recreation, Employ Loop
Photography: © Paul Zanre; All Interface LVT includes a minimum of 39% recycled content and is free of harmful chemicals like ortho-phthalate plasticisers and heavy metal ingredients.
Photography: © Paul Zanre, Interface carpet: Upon Common Ground
Photography: © Paul Zanre; Throughout the communal areas of the Old College, the Interface Design Studio chose luxury vinyl tile (LVT) Level Set™ collection for its modular functionality and durability.
Supporting Sustainability Practices
The space is undoubtedly stunning. Even better – Interface flooring supports the University of Edinburgh’s goal to become a zero-carbon university by 2040 in a multitude of ways.
Interface’s CQuest™Bio backing:
- Stores more carbon than its production generates thanks to the use of bio-based materials and recycled content.
- Is third-party verified by its own Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – so collections with the backing contribute to carbon reduction and sustainability accreditations.
- Is fully recyclable, and part of Interface’s recycling and reuse take-back program – ReEntry®.
Interface’s glue-free TacTiles® installation system:
- Connects carpet tiles together to create a “floating floor” for faster installations by mimicking the gecko’s ability to stick to various surfaces.
- Has a 90% lower carbon footprint than traditional adhesives.
- Complies with all existing green building schemes and regulations.
- Supports a healthier working environment – as TacTiles are odour free and emit virtually no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Promoting Collaboration and Flexibility
Creating flexible, professional and practical interiors was central to the Old College refurbishment. By blending modern design elements with the building’s historical charm, the new space fosters collaboration and flexibility, while the flooring solutions reinforce the university’s commitment to a healthier, more sustainable working environment.
Reflecting on the completed refurbishment, Davie says: “The new design scheme for Old College was a dramatic change from what everyone was used to, with some team members having worked in the same environment for over 20 years. The finished refurbishment is now being used as a prototype for the wider university’s push towards providing more collaborative, flexible spaces. It’s great to see this space within Old College being given a new lease of life, and the flooring really ties it all together.”
For more information about Interface flooring solutions, visit www.interface.com.