The Gradel Quadrangles

Other key credits: David Kohn Architects, New College, Oxford, Marcus Beale Associates, Oxford City Council, Historic England

Executive summary from entrant: 

The Gradel Quadrangles at New College, Oxford, is a £75 million landmark project that seamlessly integrates contemporary design with the city’s historic fabric. It introduces Oxford’s first freestanding tower since the 1930s, enhancing the skyline while reinterpreting the traditional quadrangle with Oxford’s first-ever curved quad. The project provides 94 student bedrooms, state of the art study spaces, and a 104-seat recital hall, fostering a socially sustainable collegiate community. The site is enriched with artist commissioned gates, hand-carved gargoyles, and the restored Civil War Rampart. With its commitment to architectural excellence, sustainability, and placemaking, the Gradel Quadrangles sets a new benchmark for design in historically sensitive environments.