The University of Oxford’s Ratan Tata Building, set to become the home of the Oxford-India Centre for Sustainable Development, will be built of cross-laminated timber after the university approved Morris & Co.’s plans to build a four-storey building on the grounds of Somerville College.
Designed using Passivhaus principles, the mass timber-framed building will feature an airtight envelope with all-electric systems, including air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels.
The 700 square metre building has been named after industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of Tata Group, who passed away on 9 October at the age of 86. Mr Tata had longstanding connections with Somerville College, Oxford’s first all-female college, which counts Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Iris Murdoch, and Vera Brittain among its alumni.
Reflecting on the new building, Somerville College principal Janet Royall said it was the “fruit of many conversations, hopes, and dreams over the past decade.”
“Now it will stand as a permanent legacy to the life of a remarkable man and a dear friend to Somerville,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to the Tata Group for enabling this tribute to Mr Tata and cementing Somerville’s place as a world-class academic institution.”
The building would provide eight tutor rooms, two seminar rooms, shared study spaces, a lobby and event space and an internal link connecting to the existing college buildings. According to the project team, a key design element is a large circular opening above the main entrance. This opening aims to maximise natural light and serve as a metaphorical nod to observation and openness.
“Our approach was to create a building that not only meets the evolving needs of modern academia but also celebrates Sommerville’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Morris Co-founding director Joe Morris.
“The result is an exemplar of thoughtful, sustainable design that sits proudly within its historical context while advancing the College’s vision for a vibrant, forward-thinking future.”
How a Timber Pavilion Binds Oxford’s £700m Revamp
The project is one of several timber projects under construction across Oxford’s billowing campus. Last year, Wood Central revealed that the local council approved a new mass timber cycling pavilion, part of a £700 million rejuvenation on St John’s College, Oxford University grounds.
The pavilion, designed by UK architect Fletcher Priest, will feature 191 long-stay cycle spaces and is a vital part of Oxford’s push to replace vehicles on the road with cyclists. Fletcher Priest, responsible for the Oxford North masterplan, said the pavilion’s radial design was inspired by wheel spokes “with vertical timber battens enclosing the upper floor.”
“This design will give the effect of a lantern at night and views across the surrounding market square during the day,” according to a spokesperson from the studio. The pavilion will be connected to a 5,710m² office block and is the basis of the first stage of Oxford North redevelopment, along with a new public realm and two other buildings designed by the practice.
