Graduates of the Royal Academy of Arts have criticised its decision to move 60 postgraduate students to the Museum of Mankind building. They said the studio light conditions would not be as good as where they are now.
The Royal Academy bought the site from the Department of Media, Culture and Sports in a Pounds 45 million development programme.
Birkbeck College is to spend £15 million developing its campus. If planning approval is granted, 1960s accommodation will be replaced with a new extension block and the main entrance will move to Torrington Square.
The money will come from the Higher Education Funding Council and proceeds from the sale of Birkbeck's Gresse Street building.