The Creative and Advanced Technologies Lab (CAT LAB) is the University of Westminster's hub for technology-enhanced learning, practice-led research, and creative innovation.
Pioneering technology-enhanced learning and research
Founded in 2013, the award-winning lab is the culmination of a decade-long project and £10m investment to build an innovative, academic-led centre dedicated to democratising access to creative and advanced technologies. Our user-centred approach empowers students and colleagues from all backgrounds to become knowledgeable and confident creators using state-of-the-art tools. We foster an interdisciplinary "thinking through making" environment, where hands-on experimentation and critical inquiry generate innovation and bring creative ideas to life.
An interdisciplinary campus hub
The CAT LAB is a central resource at our Marylebone Campus, bringing together students and academics from all disciplines. It provides dedicated support for the School of Architecture + Cities and the Westminster Business School, enabling students to engage with creative technologies and innovative problem-solving as a central part of their studies.
What we offer
Our technology clusters span the full spectrum of creative and advanced making:
- Immersive technologies - VR, AR, LED volumes, spatial audio
- Digital fabrication - 3D printing, CNC machining, industrial robotics
- Traditional workshops - wood, metal, casting, hot works
- Virtual production - LED volume studios, real-time compositing
- Physical computing - IoT, sensors, interactive systems
- Creative computing - generative AI, CAD, software development
- Specialist printing - large format, rigid media, vinyl printing
- Photography studios - model, product, and virtual production photography
All supported by certificated training, expert guidance, and clear pathways from first visit to independent practice.
Coming July 2026: The Immersive Experience Lab
The Immersive Experience Lab (IEL) represents a significant expansion of our spatial computing capabilities. Supported by £2.5m funding from the Office for Students, the IEL will provide infrastructure currently unmatched in UK higher education:
- 30-metre curved LED volume with LED ceiling - an immersive visual environment for education and research.
- Transformable projection pods - reconfigurable 360-degree projection spaces.
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio – 50+ channel spatial sound system.
- Digital twin integration - real-time data visualisation with IoT sensor networks.
- Motion capture systems - full-body tracking for research and production.
The facility will support applications across disciplines: immersive learning, business simulation and data presentation, immersive architectural visualisation, human-computer interaction research, and experimental pedagogy in embodied learning.
The CAT LAB bridges the gap between academic investigation and applied industry practice. We equip our students with the skills, technical literacy and creative confidence needed to excel in their future careers.
By placing these powerful tools directly in the hands of our community, the lab positions the University of Westminster at the forefront of applied creative and advanced technologies.
Learn more
Visit the CAT LAB website to:
- Explore our projects: See what our students, the lab team and research academics have created.
- View our facilities: Take a virtual tour of our diverse technologies or see the lab in action on Open Days.
- Partner with us: We are open to research and industry partnerships.
