Wolfson College celebrates opening of state-of-the-art Academic Wing

The Leonard Wolfson Auditorium, which forms the centrepiece of the new development, was unveiled by College President Dame Hermione Lee at a naming ceremony attended by the Vice-Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, members of the College and the University, friends and well-wishers to the College, and members of the Wolfson Foundation, the College's chief benefactors.

Professor Dame Hermione Lee described the significance of the achievement at the ceremony, saying: “This beautiful building will develop Wolfson College's already very distinctive cultural and academic ethos. Wolfson's academic activities, and its outreach, are thriving, and constantly evolving. We can use the new auditorium and its break-out rooms in all kinds of exciting ways: for our own academic conferences, workshops, lectures and seminars, for concerts and films and readings, and for conferencing opportunities brought to us from outside.” 

The Vice-Chancellor of the University Andrew Hamilton joined Professor Lee in unveiling a plaque commemorating the naming of the Leonard Wolfson Auditorium, before assembled guests were invited inside the building to attend a concert showcasing the College's artistic talent.

The College's Creative Arts Fellow John Duggan led the Sospiri Choir in pieces ranging from modern composers such as Cecilia McDowall and Duggan himself, to classical pieces by Bach and John Ireland. John Duggan's “sound-picture” of College life was also streamed through the building. Members of the College's award-winning ensemble-in-residence Fournier Trio performed, the architect Alan Berman described the design of the building, and a poem was read by Wolfson Professor, the poet Jon Stallworthy.

A number of local media outlets provided coverage of the event:

BBC Oxford

Oxford Mail

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