25 Apr 07

The Chancellor of Oxford University formally opened the new Stelios Ioannou School for Research in Classical and Byzantine Studies on 24 April and expressed his thanks to the Ioannou family for their generosity and vision. Lord Patten described the impressive new building at 66 St Giles' as 'adding polish to one of the jewels in Oxford's crown'.

The School is named after the late Stelios Ioannou, a Greek Cypriot businessman and philanthropist and founder of the international construction company J&P. The Chancellor spoke of the strong partnership between the University and the Ioannou family. The opening was attended by a number of family members including Mr Stelios Ioannou's widow, Ellie, his son Dakis, his daughter Sylvia and his grandchildren.

The School will provide a home for Oxford's unmatched breadth and depth of Classics research and teaching, with students and academics benefiting from one of the world's largest collections of Greek manuscripts. The new School will create a new Classics triangle co-locating the major teaching and research facilities; an extensive Classics collection in the Sackler library as well as a huge range of Classical art and archaeology in the Ashmolean Museum. The School will also provide a home for Byzantine Studies and give this subject both the facilities and profile it deserves.

The building blends tradition and innovation, with a large, light central atrium, off which are lecture and seminar rooms and a common room. The School will also be a home for an extensive Classics outreach programme to recruit the next generation of students, including a programme of school visits, summers schools, Classics' teachers days and an annual conference.

The School comes at a time of great success for Classics, which has seen a 20 per cent increase in applications from undergraduates since the late 1990s. It offers a range of new courses for students and is now open to those who have not studied Latin or Greek at school.

The Greek Ambassador and Cypriot High Commissioner were among the high-ranking dignatories who attended the opening. The Ambassador praised 'the amazing array of academics who would study in this splendid building'. The High Commissioner praised the centre as 'a fitting memorial to a great Cypriot' and also paid tribute to Oxford's achievement in providing continuity in the study of Hellenic civilisation by playing a leading role in the study of both Classical Greek and Byzantine Studies. The High Commissioner spoke of how he looked forward to Oxford taking a greater role in the study of modern Greek.

Mrs Ellie Ioannou said: 'Throughout his life Stelios encouraged the young to follow their dreams and supported them on the difficult road to achievement. Stelios firmly believed that knowledge is the only tool needed to achieve their goals. I am deeply moved that, along with my children, we are able to witness today the fulfilment of my husband's dreams. Under the auspices of Oxford University, I know that this centre will grow and flourish.'