Rhodes Building, Oriel College Oxford

Rhodes Revisited

The Rhodes Building on Oxford's High Street opposite St Mary's Church is to be renovated, including the addition of a new roof.

The planning drawings give details, and you can download them here:
Design and Access Statement
Drawings
Historic Analysis

The Rhodes Building is part of (St. Mary's) Oriel College, which was founded by Adam de Brome, Rector of St Mary's Church Oxford under Edward II in 1326.

The Rhodes Building as it stands is a more recent Edwardian creation completed in 1911 using money left to the College by will of Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) who studied as an undergraduate at Oriel with various leaves of absence in South Africa. It forms the north range of St Mary's Quad occupying a prominent position on the High Street between Magpie Lane and Oriel Street. The architect was Basil Champneys (1842-1935). A statue of Rhodes stands over the main entrance with Edward VII and George V beneath. The building is grade 2 listed and is located in the Oxford Central Conservation Area.

A conservation and management plan for Oriel College was carried out by our sister practice Stow & Beale Conservation Architects in 2008. We then developed a masterplan for Oriel College in 2009 which identified the Rhodes building as an opportunity for development.

The outdated condition of parts of the building, in particular the accommodation to the upper floors, the roof and gutters, together with a need for additional and accessible student accommodation has led to a review the building’s use. The alterations will help meet the College’s foreseeable need for student accommodation. The new roof protects the building fabric.

The works include:
• Landscape to St Mary’s Quad to improve accessibility.
• Internal alterations from basement to second floor levels, including the removal of an upper ground floor level constructed in the 1980’s.
• Construction of a new third floor and roof.
• Insertion of a lift, en-suite bathrooms and the addition of a third floor to increase undergraduate room numbers, as well as providing accessible rooms for wheelchair users and three Fellows’ sets.

The works will:
• Replace a roof that has reached the end of its useful life, protecting the building fabric below
• Increase the amount of accommodation in the Rhodes Building
• Bring the quality of accommodation up to the standards expected of the 21st century and design in flexibility for future adaptations.
• Enable the building to meet current building control standards, including improvement to its fire protection, thermal performance and accessibility.

The Rhodes Building from Oxford High Street 2008, and proposed, 2010

Further information:
Design and Access Statement
Drawings
Historic Analysis
MBA letter to the Victorian Society dated 1 February 2010

External Links:
Oriel College
Basil Champneys
Cecil Rhodes