We’re delighted to announce that work will begin on the New Waynflete Quad later this year. The current Waynflete Building will be replaced with a group of beautiful, sustainable buildings set in a riverside garden to provide accommodation for Magdalen students for generations to come, as well as facilities for the local community and a fitting eastern gateway to central Oxford.
The New Waynflete Quad will offer outstanding en-suite student accommodation, with generously proportioned rooms arranged around shared kitchens and social spaces to encourage a sense of community. It will also include a retail space and a multipurpose events area available to the local community.
The Passivhaus design places sustainability at its core and aims to provide a low-energy, environmentally friendly development that is quiet, comfortable, and homely.
The Quad has been designed by award-winning architects Stanton Williams, known for their work on historic and sensitive sites, including Rhodes House in Oxford and the Royal Opera House in London. Their design celebrates and reflects the architecture of Magdalen, surrounding buildings, and the location. Honey-coloured stone will be used for the gateway buildings that face central Oxford, and rendered buildings that harmonise with the listed buildings on St Clements will face The Plain. A new riverside garden will improve biodiversity and greatly enhance the views from the iconic Magdalen Bridge.
“The proposals have been informed by a thorough understanding of the site, its history, and wider context,” said Historic England, “and are a thoughtful and creative response to both the needs of the college and the surrounding townscape.”
We’ve worked closely with local residents, councils, and stakeholders during this process, and we’re proud of the collaborative effort that has gone into shaping this exciting new addition to our community.
The New Waynflete Quad reflects Magdalen’s commitment to sustainability, architectural excellence, and community. We are excited to see the transformation of this site take place and look forward to the positive impact it will have for generations to come.