Hughes Hall, Cambridge’s oldest graduate College, has started work on a new £12m building on Gresham Road, overlooking the University cricket ground, Fenners. President Dr Anthony Freeling led a 40-strong group of Fellows to mark the formal commencement on the development of 85 rooms and a resident student study centre, providing a modicum of assistance to Barnes, the main contractor.
The new building, designed by RHP Architects of Cambridge, will include an extensive garden area, reflecting the garden space on the main College site opposite, and be completed by September 2016, creating a valuable contribution to the College and an attractive addition to the architecture of Gresham Road and Fenner’s Lawn. For the first time, a public view of the College will be created from Gresham Road with a sightline through the impressive Grade II facades of the main College buildings.
Hughes Hall has grown significantly in recent years and with around 600 students is now greater than medium size in Cambridge College terms. The new development will ensure that 60% of the student body has accommodation on site.
Founded in 1885 as a pioneering training centre for women teachers, Hughes now offers the full range of courses provided by the University, with a particular focus on professional subjects such as law, medicine, engineering and business, whilst continuing a 130 year tradition in education degrees. One of the most global of Cambridge’s Colleges, 70% of students are from outside the UK, with over 70 nationalities represented in the College community.
Project management for the development is provided by Bidwells, Cambridge.
For further information on the project please call Richard Berg Rust, Development Director.
