The University of Oxford’s St. Catherine’s College is a unique example of post-war modernist architecture in the UK. The college commissioned Purcell as lead consultant to expand the facilities of this Grade I and II-listed site with a new Graduate Centre and extra accommodation – an ambitious request, as the college sits within Oxford’s green belt and a flood zone.
Our brief was to maximise land use in this highly sensitive site while respecting Danish architect Arne Jacobsen’s architectural language. We also needed to respond to Stephen Hodder’s later interventions. Through rigorous planning, we increased the anticipated sleeping capacity, providing 78 en-suite bedrooms, and demonstrated the potential for a freestanding graduate centre.
Complementary design
The Ainsworth Graduate Centre is a bold addition to the site, yet it relates successfully to the existing buildings. It takes the form of a distinctive cylindrical structure – a respectful nod to Jacobsen’s pure-form geometry, visible in his original gymnasium and music house designs.
Clad in bronze and stainless steel, with interiors finished in warm timber tones, the building houses a seminar room, a multi-use event space and a well-lit common room tailored to graduate needs. Together, these flexible spaces encourage interaction and study.
Purcell’s design also extends Hodder’s student accommodation pavilions, creating a seamless architectural dialogue between past and present. The original arrangement featured staircase cores at each end, so we introduced a central corridor and lift to enhance accessibility throughout. This adjustment maintained the architectural rhythm while delivering practical benefits for the students.
Sustainability
We used Building Information Modelling (BIM) to detect any design conflicts and test material interfaces, reducing both risk and cost. To increase sustainability, we prioritised carbon retention through the reuse of embedded materials and built in a long life-span for the project.
A heavy thermal structural mass, paired with efficient glazing and external shading, minimised heating loads. The building exceeded Building Regulation standards for energy use and insulation, and the project was delivered 10% under budget and completed on time.
Academic legacy
Opened in 2019 and supported by the college’s alumni and donor community, the £10m Ainsworth Graduate Centre honours the legacy of the late Master, Professor Roger Ainsworth. Its design reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to community and academic enrichment.
Jacobsen uses pure form geometries consistently throughout the design. The music house is a plan form of two intersecting octagons, the gymnasium is a pure square, the cycle store is a cylindrical building and thus we designed the new Graduate Centre floor plan as a circle.
– Nicola Hewes, Regional Partner
Details
Client
St Catherine’s College
Team
Oxford Studio
Location
Oxford
Country
United Kingdom
Listing Status
Grade I
Photography
Quintin Lake
Awards
Oxford Preservation Awards: New Buildings
Shortlisted
2021
