The Spencer Building, a new Special Collections Centre and Library for Corpus Christi College will bring together the College’s unique collection of manuscripts and early printed books into a single purpose-built space and ‘be one of the greenest projects ever completed at the University’.
image: for illustration – Front Quad, Corpus Christi College, Oxford by Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
… looks to the future while respecting the heritage of the site and buildings…
Wright & Wright writes:
….The Spencer Building, a new Special Collections Centre and Library for Corpus Christi College, Oxford is set to complete in Spring, 2024.
It will bring together the College’s unique collection of manuscripts and early printed books into a single purpose-built space for the first time in the College’s history. The design will be delivered to the rigorous Passivhaus standards of construction, energy use and environmental control, making it one of the greenest projects ever completed at the University.
Corpus Christi and the design team at Wright & Wright have actively responded to the climate conversation to deliver a pioneering and highly sustainable building emblematic of the College’s future development plans. The design adopts Passivhaus principles of high levels of insulation, airtightness and highly efficient heat recovery. Rigorous construction auditing systems ensure that sustainability targets are delivered through high quality construction.
“We are delighted to have worked with Wright & Wright on the design of our new Special Collections Centre. The creative conversation between new and old buildings that is embedded in their designs and the adoption of Passivhaus standards exemplify the blending of tradition and modernity that characterises the College.” (Professor Helen Moore, President)
The scheme will provide purpose built and state-of-the-art archival space for the storage, preservation and viewing of the College’s historic Special Collection as well as study spaces for one of the finest library collections of any Oxford college. Founded in the 16th century, the Library at Corpus Christi College is of national architectural and historical significance. Its collection of 60,000 volumes features works by Galileo, Erasmus and the Venerable Bede, among others.
However, enhancements are necessary in order to meet the current needs of students and staff at a modern, world-class university. Designed to increase the number of study spaces, improve access and safeguard the College’s Special Collections, the project by Wright & Wright looks to the future while respecting the heritage of the site and buildings.
The proposal to redevelop the modern Staircase 6 Building adjacent to the Old Library derives from a longstanding ambition by Corpus Christi College to provide additional study spaces for students and Fellows, as well as to create a new and expanded fit-for-purpose specialist archival store. The redevelopment will also provide full disabled access to all parts of the Library, including the historic Old Library, which is currently inaccessible to those requiring a passenger lift. The aim was to develop a design that sensitively integrates the existing assemblage of historic spaces with the need for modern facilities.
The building is designed to meet the stringent requirements of Passivhaus in order to provide an ultra-low energy building that requires very little space heating. To achieve this, the design team have adopted the key Passivhaus principles: provide high levels of insulation, omit thermal bridges, specify high performance triple-glazed windows with insulated frames, ensure airtight building fabric and design a mechanical and ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery.
Working alongside Passivhaus consultants, the design has been developed to simplify the form as far as possible to minimise surface area to reduce heat loss and simplify insulation details. There are two different environments within the building: the archival stores and the occupied spaces. The stores are separated thermally from the rest of the building to mitigate heat gain from the adjacent spaces. Meeting the requirements of Passivhaus within a constrained site and using historic fabric has been a challenge. Incorporating high levels of insulation has increased the depth of the walls and roof on an already tight site. This has been meticulously managed to ensure the brief is fully accommodated. In addition, the airtightness boundary had to be carefully considered to ensure the historic stone walls are able to breathe and unwanted moisture is avoided. The complexities of the project have been managed carefully throughout the design process and the details discussed and agreed with the Passivhaus certifier.
As one of Oxford’s oldest and smallest colleges, Corpus Christi is characterised by a spirit of architectural and academic intimacy. Wright & Wright’s proposals carefully unpick, restore and augment the existing building fabric, while adding distinctive contemporary elements. Notably, a new ashlar stone façade on Oriel Square replaces the existing garage and flat, part of the former President’s Lodgings. A large, glazed opening alludes to the historic notion of the ‘library window’, acting as a new marker for the College, consolidating its civic presence and reframing its relationship with the wider urban realm.
As well as creating more suitable conditions for holding and maintaining the College’s valuable archive, the project also improves accessibility to the special collections and creates more spatially efficient and experientially uplifting conditions for readers and staff. A new entrance to the library is created at the current entrance to the Staircase 6 Building, affording first floor access to the existing library for users with mobility needs. In expanding user provision, the remodelled building will create 55 new reader spaces for Corpus members and six additional spaces within the Special Collections area for researchers. An additional 2000m of shelving will be added for the storage of manuscripts and early printed books.
Across three floors, the new Reading Rooms have been designed to ensure that all of the desks are in the brightest part of the plan, overlooking the Garden Quad. This reduces the need for artificial lighting and provides excellent views out, ensuring that there is no overlooking of neighbouring Christ Church. Each of the floors has a different character and will provide a range of working environments, from the monastic sequestration of individual carrels to larger shared desks for group collaboration. Beautifully detailed bespoke furniture and lighting enhances the user experience. Despite the rise of digital media, there is still a need for physical engagement, both with people and objects, in spaces of study and contemplation. At the north end of the plan, circulation is arranged on axis with the historic Old Library, with views through to the college Chapel at the other end.
Throughout the project, existing elements and conditions are a jumping-off point for reciprocity and transformation, the new emerging out of the old to generate unexpected synergies and revitalise architecture created over time, reflecting the evolution of the College.
Though the new elements of the scheme explore a contemporary architectural language, they take their cues from the existing historic buildings, and the elemental qualities of stone. Moderating daylight and manipulating light and shadow are ways in which thoughtfully-designed masonry buildings can create definition at both a civic and human scale. “Our use of materials reflects an understanding of their inherent characteristics which informs the structure, function and meaning of our buildings”, says Clare Wright. “We look at what materials can do and we also embrace a culture of craft and making. How things are made influences the solution and the creation of signature details captures and enhances the spirit of the place.”
External walls are predominantly ashlar stone cladding to match a large, triple glazed window on the north elevation. The new flat roof will be made of lead, but also inset with photovoltaic panels. The roof that pitches towards the Garden Quad is clad in slates to match the historic Old Library. Internally, a palette of honorific materials such as oak and brass give pleasure to both eye and hand.
