Westminster hosts Topping Out Ceremony to celebrate key milestone in construction of Zone29

Located on 29 Marylebone Road, Zone29 will be an innovative physical and digital space that connects Westminster’s diverse student talent with the world of business and its local community. The revived nine-storey building next to the Marylebone Campus is set to open in early 2026 and will provide a space for students, alumni, businesses, organisations, colleagues and residents to co-create in an inclusive, sustainable environment.

Staff and students from the University joined colleagues at Morgan Sindall on the site to celebrate the building’s progress and discuss the future of the space. Opening the event, Richard Dobson, Area Director for London at Morgan Sindall, spoke about the tradition of Topping Out Ceremonies to mark the installation of the final structural beam of the building, before commenting on his experience working with Westminster and the “over 165 students engaged in the project to promote careers in construction and the wider industry”.  

Westminster’s Director for Business Engagement Linsey Cole followed with an update on progress at Zone29 and the timeline for its opening, as well as sharing how the space will work with businesses and the community to inspire new jobs, enterprises and game-changing collaborations across Westminster, London and beyond.

Cole said: “The vision of Zone29 is to create a space for students, alumni and local businesses that will reflect our University’s strategic priorities of wellbeing, inclusion and sustainable development. The Topping Out Ceremony is an important milestone for the project and celebrates our partnership with our construction partners and our local stakeholders. Through this collaboration, we are bringing our vision to life and creating a space that is welcoming, fully accessible and inclusive for all, while supporting the local business community. Zone29 is all about connecting students to the outside world and will enable us to take our collaborations with our local community and business to the next level.”

Speeches concluded with Vice-Chancellor and President of the University Professor Peter Bonfield, who shared the importance of the building for Westminster students and how students and alumni will be able to use the innovative new space. He commented: "There are many employers in our local area, across London and further afield that need a home, a place to meet and further their businesses together, and who are also in need of bright students as prospective employees who can take the state-of-the-art and apply it in ways that will help their businesses thrive. With Zone29, we will provide a hub for students, alumni and businesses to come together and co-create—to offer a building and a place that has a real and distinctive purpose in our community.”

Morgan Sindall presented the University with engraved trowels and attendees were invited to sign the final beams to commemorate the occasion, in addition to a canvas that will be displayed in the building’s entrance. A networking reception followed, which provided an opportunity to build connections and discuss the future of the space.  

The development of Zone29 directly contributes to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 17: Partnership for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.  

Find out more about the development of Zone29 at the University of Westminster.