Brief
We Are Placemaking supported a-r-c-s and Imperial College London to deliver ‘Where Great Ideas Grow’ activation at Perkins Green, Imperial College London’s White City Campus.
Where Great Ideas Grow was conceived as a live expression of Imperial’s mission, bringing the innovative work happening across the campus together with ideas, organisations and initiatives from the surrounding community. Over two days, the event created an accessible space for Imperial students and staff, local residents, families, partners, alumni and visitors to meet, discover and connect.
The programme was organised around three vibrant zones: Share Knowledge, Spark Imagination and Build Connections. Together, they created opportunities for hands-on making, interactive learning, research showcases and conversations between people who might not otherwise cross paths.
Share Knowledge brought Imperial research into an informal public setting, with interactive demonstrations from teams including Breathe London Communities, the Institute of Chemical Biology and the Research Impact Management Office.
Spark Imagination connected visitors with makers and creatives from the wider area, including Absolute Beginners, Dako Darkroom, Kate Grimes and Taipa Lab. Activities ranged from sustainable manufacturing and circular design to photography, bookbinding and explorations of material science.
Build Connections provided another space for conversation, discovery and potential collaboration, with contributors including MSRH Chemistry, Arborea and Maison Miles.
The wider programme included drop-in yoga and Pilates from Imperial MOVE, Mini Red Tennis sessions, local DJs, food and drink, and immersive art installations from Fables Creative. The mix transformed the campus into an environment where visitors could wander, participate and discover something new at their own pace.
This approach to creative placemaking helped connect research, culture, community and innovation within the public realm, while creating opportunities for genuine interaction between the Imperial community and its White City neighbours.
Delivery
- Event production and management, supporting the delivery of the two-day programme at Imperial College London’s White City Campus.
- Production management, with the Production Manager acting as the key point of contact for security, medical teams, suppliers and contractors.
- Supplier sourcing and management, coordinating the suppliers and contractors required to bring the event environment together.
- Site management, ensuring suppliers and event infrastructure were positioned and delivered in accordance with the agreed event site plan.
- Live event management, overseeing the site throughout the event and responding to the needs of attendees, suppliers and stakeholders to support smooth day-to-day operation.
- Coordination across an event environment incorporating approximately 10–15 gazebos, interactive activities and showcases, food traders, refreshments, music, wellbeing activities and creative installations.
- Support for a programme designed to welcome a broad mix of students, staff, local residents, families, partners and visitors, helping make the campus feel accessible and engaging throughout both days.
- Collaboration with We Are OPS, who provided a Safety Advisor to support the safe delivery of the event.
- Delivery of a placemaking London project that brought together academic research, local makers, creative practitioners and community-facing experiences within Imperial’s White City Campus.
Results
- Over 1,000 people attended across the two days, bringing together Imperial students and staff alongside local residents, families, partners, alumni and visitors.
- The event successfully created a shared platform for research, creativity and community activity, encouraging visitors to explore different parts of the programme rather than engaging with a single standalone experience.
- Three distinct programme zones helped turn complex themes around research, innovation, sustainability and creativity into accessible opportunities for hands-on participation and conversation.
- Imperial research teams were placed alongside makers, creatives and organisations from the surrounding area, helping strengthen connections between activity taking place on campus and the wider White City and Park Royal communities.
- The combination of demonstrations, making activities, wellbeing sessions, music, food and installations created multiple reasons to engage with the event and spend time within the space.
- The two-day event was considered a great success, with the client very happy with the delivery.
