Jesus College forms part of the University of Oxford. The existing Grade I listed College site is located centrally and sits on the edge between Town and Gown. The development site, previously used for retail, now extends the College uses towards the Highstreet and provides a vast array of new facilities for the College in this constrained central locale. The College is an education body that enables living and working in one house, with academia taking part in daily rhythms that help to shape the life and academic career of many.

Designing in this precious environment involved detailed analysis of the architecture, the Conservation Area, the Grade I and II listed buildings and in-depth studies of the behavior and patterns of college life. We extensively undertook user group sessions, interactive consultation and simulations to assess how the space and the environment of the academic future of the college could be shaped.

Leading minds advised and worked through case studies to test and question the brief, assess design assumptions and carefully consider the functionality of all spaces.
This resulted in a reimagination of the college rhythms within the design, creating a more inclusive space for staff, students and fellows. The new dynamic teaching spaces will provide opportunities for new research and encourage enhanced engagement across a variety of disciplines enabling them to share research and explore the most pressing challenges of our times.

The development includes retail, student accommodation, a café, teaching and learning spaces and a Digital Hub that aims to reimagine learning in the 21st century. The mixed use offers an ideal platform for the collegiate life and for creating improved and exciting new ways of living.

The scheme also is a response to a changing setting, with postgraduates living directly on the main college site allowing full integration for the first time. The Northgate project is currently under construction but is already considered a new landmark building for Jesus College. It is a detailed, intricate and characterful response bringing an enhanced presence and creating a new openness between the city and the College. Surrounding public spaces and the University are connected via additional public realm, a new street entrance and paths into the main college which lead to a unique elevated Quad at second floor level. The rhythmic façade responds to the existing buildings and connects the phases of the historic setting.

Sustainability and Environmental performance were key to the success of the project with consideration taken at each stage and scale to ensure the design reflected the ethos of the College. Using bespoke methods the team developed a well performing building where sustainable measures are fully integrated into the design and respond sensitively to the historic setting.

The design is fully developed in BIM and modern methods of construction are utilised in the form of a cross laminated timber structural frame and off-site manufactured bathroom pods. The design and construction teams have also embraced education and training throughout the process with this scheme allowing students from Oxford Brookes and other universities to study the project and develop in their chosen career.