We will be officially opening our brand new Science and Maths facility, the Pamela Morris building, this Thursday 25th September. There will also be an open house event to follow, on Friday 26th September from 4pm - 6pm.
View pictures of the building
Built to commemorate St Clare’s sixtieth anniversary and designed by architects Berman Guedes Stretton, this £3.3 million bespoke building was created with a vision. Paula Holloway, Principal of St. Clare’s Oxford, said:
“The college has a limited number of large classrooms and we were facing the increasing problem of lack of space – something not easy to overcome within this conservation area of North Oxford, where you naturally want to retain as much open space as possible.
We have succeeded in transforming a small, awkward piece of land into a first class teaching facility which will be enjoyed by students and which will enhance their learning. We’re delighted with the results.”
The building consists of three science laboratories with state of the art equipment, three large classrooms for mathematics lessons and a new maintenance facility. The use of glass walls, steel and wood provides an inspirational environment with lots of natural light and specially commissioned features such as a colourful fused glass wall and bespoke furniture pieces.
The College also discussed the design of the building with local residents and made several changes as a result of their suggestions.
St. Clare’s, Oxford is proud to name this building after Pamela Morris who, along with Anne Dreydel OBE, founded the college – then the Oxford English Centre for Foreign Students – in 1953. Although an uncompromisingly modern design, the Pamela Morris building complements the surrounding Victorian and Edwardian architecture exemplifying the college’s ability to adapt to its changing environment.
The Pamela Morris building will be opened by Professor Roger Ainsworth, Master of St. Catherine’s, Oxford on Thursday 25th September at 2:15pm.
Guests will include: Councillor Mohammed Abbasi, Lord Mayor of Oxford; Mr Stephen Hodder, President of RIBA; Mrs Debbie Dance OBE, MSc, FRICS, IHBC, RSA, Director of the Oxford Preservation Trust; and Richard Dick, Chairman of Lucy Group.