Keble College – H B Allen Centre | NEW OXFORD ARCHITECTURE

Keble College

New quad situated 300m north of the original college, with student rooms and associated facilities, incorporating research and laboratory space (Rick Mather/MICA, 2019)

The new graduate centre bounding Woodstock and Banbury Roads provides 250 student bedrooms, a collaborative learning centre, library, research centre, and café.

It is a fascinating new development located within the North Oxford Conservation Area, with a “suburban sense of openness” which contrasts greatly with the more closed-off nature of the historic colleges in the city centre.

In the centre of the project sits Acland House, a Grade II listed building designed by the renowned Oxford architect TG Jackson. MICA’s scheme hugs this building, wrapping three sides around the quad and also extending below the historic structure. This was one of the biggest challenges faced by the construction team, as an entirely new basement and foundations for the building had to be constructed, as well as excavating the existing ground without the building collapsing.

“The high point was when the Grade II* listed building central to this site was free standing on its newly installed piled legs. Having completely excavated under the listed building, extremely accurate laser monitoring was in place, confirming that once on its legs, the building had only moved 2mm.”- Bidwells