Amanda Levete Architects completes a silver and transparent Wadham College
02/06/2021.
[Oxford] UK
metalocus, ANTONIO PLATO
metalocus, ANTONIO PLATO
Following the receipt of planning approval from Oxford City Council in 2018, Wadham College's two new buildings, the William Doo Undergraduate Centre and the Dr. Lee Shau Kee Building, by Amanda Levete Architects, AL_A, have been unveiled.
Both buildings create a modern undergraduate center on the Wadham campus, as well as an access center to accommodate the growing number of students attending access and outreach events such as summer schools and aspiration days.
Both buildings create a modern undergraduate center on the Wadham campus, as well as an access center to accommodate the growing number of students attending access and outreach events such as summer schools and aspiration days.
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects. Photograph by Hufton & Crow
Site plan. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Site plan with description. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Basement Plan. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Basement Plan with description. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Ground floor plan. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Ground floor plan with description. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
First floor plan. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
First floor plan with description. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Second floor plan. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Second floor plan with description. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
North elevation. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
West elevation. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Section. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Facade Detail. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Axonometric. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
Exploded Axonometry. Wadham College by Amanda Levete Architects
The two buildings, designed by AL_A, which replaced the Goddard building built in 1951, are intended to radiate openness. In this way, although not large in scale, they are aspirational, expressing the values of the College and creating a sense of belonging for students and staff.
The new buildings manage to reflect the changes and evolution in the way students work and socialize. Today according the architect, they are open and transparent, and it is they who bring the buildings to life.
The new buildings manage to reflect the changes and evolution in the way students work and socialize. Today according the architect, they are open and transparent, and it is they who bring the buildings to life.
“These two buildings are designed to radiate openness. Modest in scale, but high in aspiration, they express the liberal and egalitarian values of the College and create a sense of belonging for students and staff. Reflecting changes in the way students work and socialise, they are open and transparent, and use the life of the College to animate the buildings.”
Amanda Levete, Principal, AL_A
In short, they show us the importance of social spaces in today's universities. Combining a common room for students, a cafeteria, and a bar, as well as comfortable and beautiful day-lit work areas.
Description of project by AL_A
Two new buildings at the centre of Wadham College’s historic Oxford site will create a state of the art Undergraduate Centre as well as an Aspiration Centre to accommodate the increasing number of visiting school students attending access and outreach events such as summer schools and aspiration days.
The new William Doo Undergraduate Centre will transform undergraduate life in College and the Dr Lee Shau Kee Building will serve as a nexus for Wadham’s access programme, welcoming all Wadham’s prospective applicants when they visit for inspiration days and summer schools.
The Dr Lee Shau Kee Building is an ambitious investment in the future as an investment in people who are not yet members of the college. The William Doo Undergraduate Centre is recognition of the huge importance of social spaces as places where students will meet friends and collaborators for life.
These two buildings are designed to radiate openness. Modest in scale, but high in aspiration, they express the liberal and egalitarian values of the College and create a sense of belonging for students and staff. Reflecting changes in the way students work and socialise, they are open and transparent, and use the life of the College to animate the buildings.
More information
Architects
Collaborators
Client
Wadham College.
Builders
Beard Construction. Facade engineer/ contractor.- Eckersley O'Callaghan, Colorminium. Glass and anodised aluminium facade.- Cricursa. Anodisers.- United Anodisers, Cricursa. Red stair, hardwood oak treads and risers and gloss lacquered timber balustrades.- Barn6. Stone stair.- Johnsons Wellfield.
Area
Gross internal area.- 1,760 sqf.
Retained basement area.- 497 sqf.
Site including landscaped area.- 2,930 sqf.
Dates
2017 > 2021.
Location
Oxford, UK.
Photography
Amanda Levete
Amanda Levete is a Stirling Prize winning architect and founder and principal of AL_A. She trained at the Architectural Association and worked for Richard Rogers before joining Future Systems as a partner in 1989, where she realised groundbreaking buildings including the Media Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground and Selfridges department store in Birmingham. Amanda is a trustee of leading social innovation centre the Young Foundation and has served as a trustee of influential arts organisation Artangel for over a decade. She is a regular radio and TV broadcaster, writes for a number of publications, including the New Statesman and Prospect, and lectures worldwide.
Categories
Our selection
