- Education, Retail & Hospitality
LSE Café 54
Retrofit and refresh for bold new fusion food
Located on the ground floor corner of the Cheng Kin Ku Building at the heart of the London School of Economics campus, Café 54 has been re‑imagined and rebranded as K54. Working with a concept design and LSE’s Catering Team, Wilson Mason transformed a dated café into a vibrant new catering destination, supporting a fresh offer centred around poke bowls and street‑food‑inspired menus.
Key facts
Client: London School of Economics
Status: Complete
Location: London
Services provided:
- Lead Designer
- Principal Designer- CDM
- Interior Design
- Architect
- Principal Designer- Building Regulation
- Technical Delivery
About the project
A transformation of the preparation and servery area of an existing café offering into a contemporary, visually engaging space that enhances the student and staff catering experience at LSE. Alongside a refreshed aesthetic, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were upgraded where required to meet current LSE standards and replace end‑of‑life installations.
While the core driver was operational, modernising kitchen equipment and improving workflow, the refurbishment also provided an opportunity to elevate the visual identity of the space. Contemporary finishes, including natural ply, refined slatted elements, and new tiling, were introduced to bring warmth, clarity, and a modern character to the café environment.
In keeping with LSE’s sustainability aspirations, existing finishes were retained and reused where feasible. Redundant fixtures and outdated wall sections were removed, with all surfaces restored to create a clean and cohesive finish.
The result is an open‑plan, flexible café that is intuitive to navigate, welcoming, and distinctly more sophisticated; an environment designed to enrich the student experience.
The bespoke catering servery incorporates granite and ply worktops, integrated storage with catering‑grade steel doors, built‑in appliances, hand‑wash stations, fridges, heated drawers, and dedicated serving areas. Above, the new servery bulkhead features integrated LED lighting and accommodation for client‑selected signage, establishing a striking focal point that anchors the space and provides strong branding opportunities.








