Construction has started on a new centre at Wadham College, which will revitalise the social, leisure and study experience for undergraduate students thanks to a lead donation by Wadham alumnus William Doo (Jurisprudence, 1993) and his family.
The William Doo Undergraduate Centre will continue the evolution of Wadham’s 17th-century site in the heart of Oxford by expanding the range of learning spaces in the college and offering 24-hour accessibility for students with mobility-related issues.
Comprising study areas, social space, an art room, café, e-hub and Junior Common Room, the new building will provide multiple areas where undergraduate students can study, exchange ideas and socialise.
Spanning four levels, the building is scaled sensitively to the surrounding historic buildings and Holywell Music Room. The careful design of the building places the needs of students at its core, maximising natural light and creating direct access from the centre to key areas such as the student kitchen, laundry room, bands room and secure bicycle store.
The William Doo Undergraduate Centre will offer a state-of-the-art experience for Wadham students, a crucial factor in enabling the college to continue to attract academically talented undergraduate students from all backgrounds and from across the UK and beyond.
The centre forms part of a significant joint building project at Wadham and will stand alongside the Dr Lee Shau Kee Building, which is also currently under construction. Designed to house the college’s extensive and pioneering access and outreach programme, the building will be dedicated to welcoming schools and hosting tailored events and activities, including aspiration days and residential summer schools. The building will have a music room, space for public lectures and disability-accessible student accommodation.
For more information on the progress of both projects, please visit www.wadham.ox.ac.uk.
The anticipated completion date for the new buildings is August 2020.