Oxford University's 21st century campus revealed

15 October 2009

 The University of Oxford has today revealed plans for the two most significant buildings on its new Radcliffe Observatory Quarter (ROQ) - one of the biggest development projects it has undertaken for more than a century.

Plans for the Mathematical Institute, designed by Rafael Viñoly, and the Humanities Building and Library, designed by Bennetts Associates, have been revealed at a public exhibition, held at the Grade II Listed St Luke's Chapel on the site today and tomorrow and planning permission will be applied for at the end of this month.

The University's Mathematical Institute and its Humanities Division will find new homes on the 10-acre ROQ site in central Oxford, a move that for both subject areas will unite a number of centres and faculties that are currently scattered around the city and provide cutting-edge research and teaching facilities.

Professor Anthony Monaco, Chair of the ROQ Board, said: "Now the University has successfully obtained planning permission for phase I of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter project, we now turn our attention to phase II, with planning permission being sought for our main two new academic buildings, the Humanities Centre and Library and the Mathematical Institute Building.

"These two projects are at the heart of our academic mission on this site, with fantastic designs by both architects. They offer state-of-the-art research, teaching and study space for faculty and students while offering new avenues through the site, exciting courtyards, gardens and squares, all with views of the Radcliffe Observatory. The new buildings will further the University's sustainability policy by maximising the use of natural ventilation and include ground source heat pumps to serve both buildings from a centrally located energy centre."

Rafael Viñoly Architects' new Mathematics building will consolidate a department that had been spread across multiple locations, giving it a new focus and identity - one that will balance researchers' needs for privacy with the increasing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. It will be the main workplace for over 500 academics and support staff, as well as the centre for the academic life of approximately 1000 undergraduates and a diverse community of college research fellows and lecturers.

The scheme provides the opportunity to accommodate the growing population of the Mathematical Institute in a modern, high performance building that respects and enhances the setting of the adjoining historic buildings.

Above ground, the scheme comprises two volumes of up to five storeys of academic research accommodation. Below ground, two basement levels are proposed accommodating seminar rooms, lecture theatres and open plan public spaces for undergraduates.

A two-storey glazed element links the two blocks, containing the main entrance lobby and providing the main means of access to the building and distributing circulation vertically both to upper and basement levels.

The building's discrete and contextual form has been carefully sculpted in direct response to the historic and urban conditions of the site. The scheme's relationship with its neighbouring listed buildings and frontages to prominent roads and walkways is carefully articulated to suggest a sequence of public spaces of different scales and characters. Open squares, intimate courtyards, and carefully directed walkways bound the perimeter of the building.

Rafael Viñoly, Principal of Rafael Viñoly Architects said: "We are delighted to be moving forward with the Mathematical Institute. It has been an inspiration working with the mathematicians in shaping a building that will unify their community from undergraduate through to professor and create a new, singular identity for the department."

Chair of Mathematics Professor Nick Woodhouse said: "The Oxford Mathematical community has grown in strength and numbers over recent years, but is now spread out over five buildings.  The new Institute on the ROQ site will bring us back together again.  We are very excited by Rafael Viñoly's plan.  He has worked in close collaboration with the Institute to design a building that will give our faculty and students a first-class working environment."

The new Humanities Building and Library, designed by Bennetts Associates, will form the centrepiece of the ROQ development, with the Observatory itself providing a clear focus and identity for the whole quarter. The first phase brings together four faculties -English, History, Theology and Philosophy, plus the general facilities for the Division. Bringing these groups together will create considerable synergy between them, with shared facilities and numerous spaces for networking in addition to the study spaces and individual workplaces required by faculty members.  

The project will also provide an integrated library facility for all the eventual occupants of the site, as well as teaching spaces for up to 1500 students, all of which are linked to provide physical and intellectual connections.

The faculty blocks are arranged as open-sided courtyards rather than atrium-type offices, allowing them to be simple, robust buildings with opening windows for natural ventilation in the manner of a traditional Oxford quad.  

At the centre of the composition is a 'lantern' structure that rises two storeys above upper ground level, allowing a spectacular central space to be created within the library and a striking pavilion for the quad gardens. The shape of the lantern allows views of the Radcliffe Observatory from well inside the library, includes reader spaces located above the level of the gardens themselves, and forms a lively focus to both of the library's main floors. Beyond this central pool of daylight, the lower floor is largely allocated to book storage and functions not requiring daylight (such as plant rooms).

Rab Bennetts, Director of Bennetts Associates, said: "The intention behind this scheme is to extend the spirit of historic Oxford, with quadrangles, gardens, glimpses and vistas.  The development offers an extremely ambitious range of accommodation and we want to create something that feels calm and restrained, so that the new library lantern and the 18th century Radcliffe Observatory can dominate the public realm."

Head of Humanities at Oxford, Professor Sally Shuttleworth, said: "The Humanities Faculties are currently housed in small buildings scattered around Oxford, which are no longer fit for purpose. The new building will offer excellent teaching and research facilities, and bring together undergraduates, graduates and faculty members from across the Division."

Dr Sarah Thomas, Bodley's Librarian and Director of Oxford University Library Services, added: "The Humanities and Maths Library on the ROQ will be a wonderful opportunity to have a 21st century library that fosters community and that is designed to accommodate modern technologies that will complement our rich print collections."
For further information or photographs or to arrange interviews with any of the team involved in this project, contact Katie Samuel in The University of Oxford Press Office on press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk or 01865 270046.