Providing much-needed accommodation and academic space for the College, The Hands Building is a new and welcome addition to the Mansfield Campus incorporating 74 en-suite study bedrooms, a Fellow’s flat, a home for the new Bonavero Institute of Human Rights including seminar and teaching spaces and a 160-seat lecture theatre. Meeting the high aspirations for quality, the building has provided Mansfield excellent value through the benefits and opportunities offered by the new facilities.

Part of a heritage led phased masterplan including both new build aspects and carefully considered renovation of the listed Champney’s buildings, this element has maximised the potential of a constrained site, creating a striking backdrop to the newly landscaped Quad.

Building on an enclosed site to a demanding timescale and tight budget demanded an alternative to the standard concrete frame approach, and cross-laminated timber (CLT) provided a compelling case for delivering the project to time, cost and quality. The result is a stunning new building which sits comfortably amid and complements the historic Grade 2* listed buildings of Mansfield College in the heart of Oxford and is a much admired addition to the architecture of the city.