A stunning, and beautifully-designed, new auditorium, studio and function space, overlooking a lake in the tranquil grounds of Worcester College.
Located within the college’s 13th century gardens and adjacent to the pristine cricket pitch, it was essential that disturbance was minimised.
The project involved the creation of a lecture theatre, studio and two seminar rooms. The vision was for an architecturally stunning building that enhanced its setting. The oak-lattice-ceilinged foyer, precision cut Clipsham limestone, and impressive pleated ceiling are highlighted by copious natural light from the huge glazed elements.
Working with people like Richie, Martin and Adam at Beard gives me the confidence to make bold decisions in an atmosphere of mutual support and collaboration... I trust them and I am very happy to recommend them to architects with demanding projects requiring special skill and care.
Access restrictions on the site meant mini piling rigs, used to provide the foundations of the building, needed to be sourced. Two piling rigs were used simultaneously, one for the foundations and another to install the ground source heat pumps which provide sustainable heat for the building.
For the auditorium seating, pre-cast concrete terracing has been clad with porcelain and stone and topped with curved, steam-bent oak seats. Floor to ceiling fins, comprising a steel frame with a Clipsham stone finish, create strong vertical lines between fifteen sets of acoustic double doors and the high level clerestory windows.
It’s a success because I think it will look this good, this sharp and this robust in 10...20...50 years’ time