Garden Building: a new home for Wolfson students and fellows

Wolfson is fortunate to offer more on-site accommodation than most graduate colleges in Oxford. Even so, only around 40% of our students currently live on site, and demand continues to exceed supply.

The remaining majority must navigate Oxford’s competitive housing market, often at considerable financial cost and with reduced access to the daily benefits of College life: shared meals, study spaces, support systems, and the chance to fully immerse themselves in the Wolfson experience.

To make this experience possible for more students, we need more rooms on site.

ABOUT THE BUILDING

The Garden Building will be a three-storey residential development providing 50 high-quality student bedrooms, each supported by communal kitchens, shared study areas, and thoughtful design that prioritises community, wellbeing, and sustainability.

It will be located on the South Car Park, a site that is ideal for redevelopment as the College moves away from fossil fuel vehicles. The building’s design honours the College’s original Grade II-listed architecture while introducing a modern and environmentally responsible new space.

The car park will be replaced by restored green space, landscaped to increase biodiversity and enhance the natural beauty of the site. A smaller parking area, including blue badge spaces and a loading bay, will remain – supporting essential access while promoting alternative, low-carbon transport options such as bicycles, e-bikes, and the College’s electric minibus.

This is not about growing the student body, rather improving the experience of those already here. It is the first step in a longer-term development plan focused on improving the College for future generations.

DESIGN & SUSTAINABILITY

As a listed site, any development at Wolfson must meet rigorous conservation and design standards. Working closely with architects and planning experts, we have created a building that fits seamlessly within the College’s architectural and natural landscape.

The Garden Building will reflect the spirit of the College’s original design – clean modernist lines, communal layout, and working in harmony with the surrounding gardens. Its flint cladding will offer a sympathetic contrast to the granite facades of the older buildings, blending in beautifully with the setting.

The Garden Building is being constructed to Passivhaus standards – a gold standard for sustainable architecture. It will be zero-carbon in operation, using solar panels, high-performance insulation, and heat pumps to minimise energy consumption and environmental impact.

This building is a reflection of Wolfson’s long-term commitment to environmental responsibility.

STAY UPDATED

Construction will begin in August 2025 and is expected to last around 18 months.

Throughout the build, we will share our progress on social media and via the weekly Wolfson newsletter. We are also live streaming the process – see below.

If you have any questions about the project, please email: garden.building@wolfson.ox.ac.uk