The Spencer Building at Corpus Christi College, Oxford
The Spencer Building at Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Located south of the city centre, Corpus Christi is one of Oxford’s oldest and smallest colleges. Its library, which was founded in the 16th century, has a collection of 60,000 volumes, including original works by Galileo, Erasmus and the Venerable Bede.
We are working as structural engineers to help modernise the main library by improving access to the special collections - to be housed within the new, improved security and climate-controlled Spencer Building that will preserve the College’s valuable archive.
The Spencer Building, located within the College’s central site, will provide a range of carefully curated spaces with facilities designed to support world-leading research. The new building will include art archival and study spaces, as well as an additional 1,200m of shelving for manuscripts and early printed books. The building will create a new, three-storey, purpose-built home for the College’s special collections and archives, in an environmentally sustainable building, using the latest technologies including passive temperature and humidity controls.
Reader desks will make the most of the natural light and provide differing views out into the College gardens at first floor level and the roofscape from the top floor, whilst a small outdoor space with benches will facilitate social interactions and collaborative working amongst the student community.
As part of our work, we will also restore and enhance the existing 1950s Grade II-listed ‘Staircase 6’ building. A new ashlar stone façade fronting Oriel Square will be added, whilst internally, a palette of materials such as oak and brass will be used throughout, in keeping with the rest of the college.
Client Corpus Christi College
Architect Wright & Wright
Images Courtesy of Wright & Wright