Reinterpreting our 1960s heritage

Reinterpreting our 1960s heritage Join the College as it invests in Fitzwilliam’s architectural future

For more than five decades, Lasdun’s buildings have been home to successive generations of Fitzwilliam men and women.

Now, the necessary updating of Lasdun’s original accommodation presents a wonderful opportunity to improve the student experience at Fitzwilliam. The involvement of our Junior Members from the earliest planning stages has been vital in understanding their future needs.

Our architects, RH Partnership, were selected for their expertise in bringing 1960s accommodation up to today’s technical and social standards. Respecting the integrity of Lasdun’s original vision, the imaginative retrofitting of our Freshers’ accommodation in A, B and C staircases will result in three ‘houses’ within the Lasdun shell, with shared student flats on each floor.

We are already enjoying the restored façade with its eyecatching windows and new roof. We must now turn our attention and fundraising energies inside. This is an exciting moment. Rethinking the purpose and sustainability of our precious estate is creating many opportunities for alumni and friends who care about preserving Fitzwilliam’s past.

Visualisation by RH Partnership Architects

Recognition opportunities for donors will be incorporated into the fabric of the building, so that successive generations of students are aware of the generosity that made possible its transformation.

SHARED LIVING College friendships are an essential element of student life, and by accommodating Freshers together Fitzwilliam already encourages the formation of friendships from day one.

Our students have said that they would like us to go further, however; and through clever re-jigging of Lasdun’s internal layouts, the architects have been able to turn corridors into flats with new and spacious living areas. Shared bathrooms and old gyp rooms on each floor will be replaced with new social spaces that allow flatmates to cook, eat and relax together.

Two new wheelchair-accessible ground floor bedrooms in Houses A and B, as well as customised kitchen facilities, will enable Fitzwilliam to offer the same shared-living experience to all new students.

New roof insulation and the latest in window technology, combined with 21st century plumbing and electrics, will reduce the College’s maintenance and heating costs whilst greatly improving the comfort of our newest members.

Left, student flat The new shared social space can be seen in blue

PERSONAL SPACE Within each flat, the re-modelled study-bedrooms will provide privacy and comfort for our students.

All the study-bedrooms will be semi-ensuite and have increased storage space and shelving, yet still feel more spacious than the existing layouts. New, slimmer window profiles will mean more light, and double glazing will ensure that the rooms will be warmer in winter.

We have already remodelled one study-bedroom as a trial.

The lucky student resident has given excellent feedback, enabling the architects to refine their scheme in advance of major internal works.

We welcome your support Transforming Staircases A, B and C will cost £4.5 million, half of which needs to come from donations. We already have the funds to complete House A, but we need to raise a further £1.2 million towards Houses B and C so they’re ready for students by October 2016.

“We look forward to welcoming future members of Fitzwilliam into their sustainable new home. Our intention is not just to make these 1960s buildings fit for purpose, but to create student accommodation that we can be proud of. Please contact me if you would like to join us in this exciting project.”

“Once the work’s completed Fitz will have some of the best student accommodation in Cambridge. I’m hugely envious of future students who will get to experience it, and I feel privileged to have been involved in the design process.”

Phil Hart, JCR President 2013-2014

Dr Helen Bettinson, Development Director development@fitz.cam.ac.uk +44 (0)1223 332015

More than 180 windows have now been replaced, with the new windows seen on the right.

ENVIRONMENT Fitzwilliam is committed to upgrading its 1960s buildings using energy-saving materials and technology to bring them into line with current standards.

FITZWILLIAM COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Registered Charity no 1137496

• Fitting double glazed windows, and wall and roof insulation • Creating glazed porches to reduce heat loss • Replacing baths with showers • Installing mechanical supply and extract ventilation with heat recovery