A unique development that transforms the heart of Mansfield College benefiting the whole college community for generations to come.
Located at the rear of Mansfield College’s historic quad, the new six-storey Hands Building provides 74 high-quality en-suite student bedrooms on the upper four floors, increasing the accommodation capacity by 75%.
The lower two floors provide a home for the new Bonavero Insitute of Human Rights.
Extending from the basement level up to the ground floor, a 160-seat auditorium is available for a range of college activities and lectures, as well as being used as a cinema, performing arts space and a moot court where legal proceeding can be simulated.
The institute’s spaces on the lower floors have been developed jointly by the college and the University of Oxford Law Faculty and are located around a double-height lightwell. On the ground floor, offices and meeting rooms open onto a sunken terrace, set within a landscaped garden, whilst below ground a reading room and library provide study spaces for graduate research students and academic visitors.
On time, on budget, great quality, and above all a pleasure to work with
• The client wished to maximise the use of sustainable materials. This was achieved by the use of a CLT frame which facilitates energy efficiency and airtightness, and reduces the build time as well as improving the carbon footprint of the building
• Standard timber does not provide the acoustic performance required so the auditorium walls were lined with special acoustic timber to ensure excellent acoustic performance
• On the lower floors the combination of reinforced concrete with large composite steel beams maximise the available internal space
Part of the reason for choosing Beard, apart from the obvious issues of quality, cost, and programme, was their abiliy to communicate a sense of personal warmth - these were real human beings - and committment to building a strong relationship
The auditorium walls lined with acoustic timber panelling, timber floors, glass balustrate and large glazed wall, combine to provide a bright, modern facility for lectures and performances.
The basement sits below the water table, necessitating intricate design and detailing to prevent any water ingress. This houses the institute’s research and study spaces. The communal areas provide spaces for social functions and informal meetings and, hidden below the tiered auditorium floor, is the building’s plant room.
The location of the site, at the rear of the college, required the transportation of large quantities of materials through the busy college quad. Logistics Coordinators were used to manage vehicle movements to eliminate any potential health and safety risks to students and staff.