Not applicable
INT
Reuben College, Oxford’s 39th and first new college in nearly 30 years, is a transformative refurbishment of Grade II listed buildings within the University’s Science Area and Central Conservation Area. The project integrates the 1901 Jackson and 1934 Worthington buildings of the Radcliffe Science Library, the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, and the 160-year-old Abbot’s Kitchen into contemporary spaces for graduate study, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community interaction. One of the University of Oxford’s largest decarbonisation and decontamination initiatives, it involved the removal of over 800 tons of asbestos and four pints of mercury. The design prioritises inclusivity and openness, balancing heritage preservation with modern needs including the creation of accessible facilities, a specialised Collections Teaching and Research Centre uniting Oxford’s four museums, and a vibrant College social heart in repurposed laboratories. Despite challenges, including extensive Listed Building Consents and pandemic disruptions, the project exemplifies resilience, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable transformation.
“fjcstudio has been highly successful in addressing a complex brief to integrate three distinct stakeholders — Reuben College, the Radcliffe Science Library, and the Museum Research Centre — within a multi-period Grade II Listed Building. Their interventions demonstrate impressive sensitivity and respect for the existing fabric while achieving results that have garnered widespread praise. The response from the readers of the Radcliffe Science Library have been particularly positive and the library is the busiest it’s been for over ten years.”
Richard Francis-Jones, Design Architect
Christine Kwong, Project Principal
Adrian Yap, Technical Principal
CPC Project Services, Project Manager
Purcell, Heritage Consultant
Stantec, Structural Engineer
AECOM, Quantity Surveyor
Qoda, ESD Consultant
Savills, Town Planner
fjclandscape, Landscape Consultant
Attune, Acoustic Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
