Discover the Hands Building at Mansfield College, Oxford University, where modern design meets historic charm. This stunning facility includes a 160-seat lecture theatre and 74 en-suite student bedrooms, each accessed via a beautifully lit Sylva™ CLT staircase with exposed soffits and spine wall. With exposed Sylva™ CLT Walls and Roofs it's a perfect blend of contemporary elegance and timeless architecture.

The Hands Building at Mansfield College, is a significant addition to the Oxford University campus, providing much-needed accommodation and academic space. The structure includes 74 en-suite study bedrooms, a Fellow's flat, and a home for the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, which features seminar and teaching spaces, as well as a 160-seat lecture theatre. The building meets high standards of quality and offers excellent value through the benefits and opportunities provided by the new facilities.

As part of a heritage-led phased masterplan, the project includes both new construction and the careful renovation of the listed Champney's buildings. This approach has maximized the potential of a constrained site, creating a striking backdrop to the newly landscaped Quad.

The project demanded an alternative to the standard concrete frame approach due to the enclosed site and demanding timescale. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) was chosen for its ability to deliver the project on time, within budget, and to the desired quality. Construction began in February 2016 with a fixed deadline to enable occupancy of the bedrooms at the beginning of the academic year. This rapid completion of the building's frame ahead of the winter of 2017-18 allowed internal works to proceed without delay during the worst of the winter weather. 

The College stayed operational during construction, requiring careful logistical planning to minimize disruption. Our partners, Eurban used advanced BIM and DfMA tools to create 4D simulations for project sequencing and phasing. On-site, their skilled team ensured minimal impact on daily college life. Prefabricated Sylva CLT elements allowed for just-in-time installation, with panels lifted directly from the lorry for rapid assembly.

The result is a stunning building that complements the historic Grade 2* listed buildings of Mansfield College and is a much-admired addition to Oxford's architecture. The bedrooms are accessed via a private, naturally lit staircase featuring exposed CLT spine wall and soffits, with each student room having a single wall or ceiling left exposed.

The project forms the third phase of the campus-wide scheme and is a bold contemporary addition that sensitively connects to the adjacent heritage buildings. The building's form was carefully positioned to accommodate the line of the 17th-century Civil War ditch marking the College's southern border and steps to open up the listed façade of the Principal's Lodgings.

The design team worked extensively with BIM technology to ensure precise requirements were met and that erection on-site would be problem-free. The precision enabled by factory production and careful planning of logistics allowed each panel to be delivered on time, manoeuvred into place in sequence, and assembled seamlessly.

The exposed Sylva™ CLT Walls, Floors and Roofs in bedrooms and the naturally lit staircase add to the building's aesthetic qualities, working with the stone façade, metal-framed windows, and large-format glazing to provide occupants with a feeling of solidity, rooting the building to the site. Visible from Mansfield Road on an axis with the main entrance, the new building offers a public face for the College. It is universally well-received by all who use it, and the shared auditorium space hosts regular lectures that draw new audiences to experience the beautiful collegiate setting.

Awards:

Shortlisted for the Structural Timber Awards 2018 in the category of Education

Offsite Construction Award in the Commercial Project category