Image Credit: Wadham College/Beard
A contract to create a new undergraduate centre in Parks Road, has been awarded to the construction firm Beard. This new centre will be the first dedicated access facility for welcoming prospective Oxford students.
The new three-storey facility will comprise two buildings, named after Dr Lee Shau Kee and William Doo respectively, and will offer purpose-built space to welcome schools and host Wadham’s access programmes, as well as residential summer schools.
This project will mean demolishing the above-ground levels of the existing junior common room and the Goddard Building.
Wadham College Domestic Bursar Frances Lloyd has said: “We are delighted to have appointed Beard to fulfil this exciting new project for Wadham and look forward to working together over the next two years.”
The centre will house a new junior common room, in addition to student study areas, student kitchens, a café and bar, an art room and a hub with administration offices on the top floor. Whilst the existing basement level will be refurbished to offer bike storage, a laundry room and a band music room.
Beard contracts manager, Richie Carter, said:
“We are delighted to be delivering these two fantastic new centres, which will not only improve access to Wadham College and its buildings, but provide students with a modern, welcoming and inclusive learning environment.
“As the construction will be taking place in a live campus environment, our project team will be programming works to minimise their impact on the college’s day-to-day activities.”
Beard has a long history of building for Oxford University colleges. This project is estimated to cost £11m and the development will have a 25 percent greater area than the college’s existing buildings but is hoped to significantly lower energy consumption due to energy-saving features, including solar roof panels.
