Transforming our Site

Aims and Objectives

We embarked on a major redevelopment of accommodation and facilities for our students and staff on the College site in 2018. Undertaken in two phases, the building programme aimed to enhance significantly the experience of St Hilda’s as a place to study, live, and work. Our initial phase of building work, which was completed in early 2021, has transformed the front of the College site. It includes a new Anniversary Building (replacing the old Porters’ Lodge and Middle Common Room) and a Pavilion (replacing Milham Ford). The building programme necessitated the move of our Chapel from Milham Ford building when it was demolished to a temporary location elsewhere in College. With input from the JCR, MCR and SCR, St Hilda's Governing Body decided to create a multi-faith room. The Sanctuary is an inviting and inclusive space, to which all members of College are welcome. The decision reflects St Hilda’s commitment to inclusivity. 

Our redevelopment aims to provide a college room for all undergraduate students for the duration of their degree. The first phase includes a new Middle Common Room for graduate students and provides new, high-quality teaching, office and social spaces. The new Porters’ Lodge and main entrance has revitalised the College's profile on Cowley Place. Redesigned gardens will embed the buildings in the distinctive green space of St Hilda’s riverside setting.

We expect the second phase to transform the rear of the site. In December 2019, the multi-award-winning architects, Design Engine, were appointed for our new student accommodation project. This followed an invited competitive interview which focused on the practice’s design approach rather than any single definitive solution. The project encompasses new undergraduate accommodation, gym and academic support facilities as part of a second phase of development at St Hilda's. Find out more in our Public Consultation brochure. 

Sustainability

We are reducing the polluting emissions from heat and power in our new buildings. The buildings' form and fabric will help inherently to control their internal climate. Thus, the demand for heating or cooling required to create comfortable work and living spaces will be reduced. This has helped to strip back many technological add-ons from the outset.

Natural ventilation is provided by openable windows. The windows’ sizes and deep-reveal depths also help to regulate and optimise daylight and sunlight penetration. The 3D modelling of the Pavilion led to refinement of the precast concrete fin sizes to optimise shading windows from sunlight around midday and in the early afternoon.

The exposed concrete structure of the Anniversary Building and our natural ventilation strategy means that it will avoid overheating without the use of mechanical cooling systems. As the concrete has a high thermal mass, energy is slowly absorbed or released stabilising temperatures throughout the day.

A standalone Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system that is sized and controlled to meet the hot water baseloads of the new accommodation can deliver carbon and cost savings. By using waste heat from electricity generation, the integral inefficiency due to transmission of the electricity can be improved. The high hot water usage for student accommodation means that hot water generation represents a significant demand for energy throughout the year. Combined heat and power systems are recognized as capable of delivering significant energy and carbon savings compared with the separate generation of heat and power.

Using a central CHP engine to provide heating and hot water loads, the use of natural ventilation, and high thermal mass combine to make possible a 23.2% overall energy offset by low and zero carbon technologies. By doing this, we are also achieving a 10.5% reduction in CO2 emissions.

Project Updates

We have provided regular updates on our building project and our progress towards its completion. Follow the links below for further information.