[home] > [projects menu] > [colleges menu]

[click on images to view larger versions]

The practice won a competitive interview to design the masterplan for 25 year’s worth of future development at Downing College. The development plan we have produced is for 100 graduate accommodation bedsits, a sports hall and a graduate social centre.

The first phase of the masterplan was completed in March 2000. This included the Singer Building, a new graduate residence for thirty students (£2m) and the refurbishment and conversion of three Edwardian villas for a further fifty students (£0.75m).

Rather than compete with the Neo-Classical buildings which dominate the northern end of the College site, our proposal sought to design a sequence of modest buildings on a domestic scale which line the gardens and late Victorian buildings along Lensfield Road. The Singer Building has two distinct faces, informed by its location. One side relates to the domestic red brick architecture of its neighbours, whereas the side facing the wooded area of the College grounds is much softer with timber detailing.

The refurbishment and extension of the Porters’ Lodge was completed in October 2003, together with major alterations to provide wheelchair access facilities (£0.25m).

The phased re-ordering of the frontages to the Lensfield Road villas, together with the creation of a new pedestrian entrance to the College, was completed in 2005.

The Singer Building:

Client: Downing College Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon & Everest Structural Consultant: Hannah Reed & Associates Services Consultant: Max Fordham & Partners Main Contractor: F W Cocksedge Contract Value: £6 million Completion Date: September 1999