A new court for Clare
Clare announces its landmark project for the 21st century: a new court to complete the master plan for the Memorial Court site, enhance educational provision, and help the College towards financial independence. The new court will be constructed in the north-west corner of Memorial Court, between the University Library and Burrell's Walk, balancing Thirkill Court and completing Giles Gilbert Scott's architectural master-plan for the site. The project will meet a pressing need for more student rooms and enhanced educational facilities, especially an auditorium. The new court will also enable Clare to retain its existing share of the important conference market and will generate a significant, additional income stream. This is a unique opportunity to build on the last undeveloped portion of Clare's historic site, in a way that will make a lasting contribution to the College's educational and financial wellbeing. All members of Clare are invited to support this vision for the future. Progress of the constructionPlease follow this link to view photographs of the construction site which will be taken on a regular basis.
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The study centre
Other Cambridge colleges have recently invested heavily in educational and conference facilities. The new building will enable Clare to maintain its position of excellence, providing much-needed new spaces for academic and extra-curricular activities. |
The primary wing of the L-shaped building, by van Heyningen and
Haward architects, will house a state-of-the-art study centre with
an underground, 150-seater auditorium for lectures and films. On
the ground floor, a spacious, light-filled, double-aspect foyer
with a portico and terrace extending out into the court provides
an excellent space for receptions and art exhibitions . The entire
first floor is occupied by a double-height music/conference room
with a folding, acoustic screen wall allowing the space to be divided
into two seminar rooms.The accommodation wing
A generous seminar room on the ground floor supplements the facilities in the main study centre, and also serves a suite of offices for Fellows which will free up rooms for student accommodation elsewhere in College. |
The
secondary wing of the new building, alongside Burrell's Walk, will
provide 34 high-quality, ensuite rooms on two floors, for undergraduates
in term-time and conference delegates in vacations.The court
The
space created by the new buildings is as important as the buildings themselves.
The new court will not simply replicate other courts, but will be
a more dynamic, landscaped space, inviting College members and conference
delegates to make maximum use of the terrace and lawn.
By creating archway openings through the two ranges of Ashby Court, a new north–south pedestrian axis will be opened up, linking the new court with the Forbes Mellon Library and Thirkill Court, and greatly improving access to the latter.
The building by van Heyningen and Haward architects will be distinctive and contemporary, yet sympathetic to Gilbert Scott's architectural vocabulary, employing the same materials as Memorial Court and echoing its volume, massing and proportions. The aim is to create a humane and measured environment, and a worthy 21st century addition to the College's distinguished architectural inheritance.
The approach has been to design a building that is in keeping with the style of Memorial Court but not simply a pastiche. As the new building will face both Burrell's Walk and the University Library, the architectural vision has been to create a calm and relaxed, timber-clad northern facade for the accommodation wing, visible through newly planted trees from Burrell's Court, and a more imposing brick frontage to the study centre facing the University Library.
Project Costs
The total project cost for the new court is £8.5 million. The College has already secured £7.8 million in gifts and pledges from alumni. The challenge now is to raise the remaining £0.7 million over the next year so that the new building can be opened, as planned, in 2009.
The new court offers the last chance for donors to contribute to the development of the College's core buildings and attach their name to a significant part of Clare's historic site. For a list of naming opportunities associated with the project, click here.
The College invites all its members to join together in supporting the new court.