Wadham College, University of Oxford

2024 RIBA South Award

William Doo and Dr Lee Shau Kee Building, Wadham College, University of Oxford
AL_A for Wadham College
Contract value: £13.5m
GIA: 2250m²
Cost per m²: £6,000

The architect has remastered the internal routes at the college, through a twinset building at the campus’s heart. The new Locke Access Centre perches at the top of the steps, opening onto an existing terrace while bridging from it; linking two quads is the new William Doo Undergraduate Centre. The new buildings, while adjoining, required distinct identities, to respect two separate donors. The architect addressed this by using etched glass with two different yet complementary effects – a vertical motif with reflective back panels for the Locke Access Centre, and a horizontal pattern with more transparency for the William Doo Undergraduate Centre. While completely other to the surrounding stone buildings, the material sits comfortably, gently reflecting its neighbours’ warm hues and stone markings. Through the bridged entrance where the two buildings converge, a red staircase and ramp stretch out to address the site’s changing levels, ensuring step-free access.

The two buildings contain study spaces, student rooms, common rooms and even a music room just off the entrance, with a theatrical window. Student rooms offer enhanced accessibility options for the college, with over 25% of rooms being fully accessible.

The new structures sit on the foundations of a former building, with the plant room basement reused. Above ground, a steel frame is spanned by cross laminated timber (CLT) floors. At roof level the facade disguises an array of photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. The construction involved a number of prefabricated elements which had to consider constrained access through the arched gateway to the college, as well as navigating a number of mature trees that were retained. Through simple measures, and despite occupying a greater area than the previous building, energy use is significantly lower.

With simple but important moves to address the primary routes and accessibility across the site, the two buildings act conscientiously in this historic setting, enhancing access visually, physically and metaphorically.

See the rest of the RIBA South winners here. And all the RIBA Regional Awards here

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RIBA Regional Awards 2024 sponsored by EH Smith and Autodesk