Northgate project reaches halfway point

1 February 2021

We’re halfway through February, and over halfway through the construction work on our new Northgate development.

Although hard to view at street level thanks to the huge cloak of scaffolding that currently shrouds the building, we have now begun the installation of windows in the accommodation blocks and along the Cornmarket facade. Work is also well underway on the stonework which will clad large parts of Northgate. We’re using precision-cut Clipsham limestone from quarries in Lincolnshire to clad the building and, once completed, over 8,000 hand-cut, bespoke pieces will have been laid – weighing in at almost 1500 tonnes.

Glazing work has begun on Jesus College’s new building

 

Despite the fairly bleak weather over the past few weeks, the BAM team has been able to continue with roof works and the building should be water-tight by late April. Work will commence shortly on the party wall with WH Smiths.

Inside the building, the beauty of our architects’ design is starting to become a reality. The construction of the sculptural staircase that will connect all floors of the building is now complete and, with all the postgraduate accommodation pods now in place, the fourth quad has really taken shape in recent weeks. 

A carefully-coordinated range of trades, from carpenters to electricians, are currently working on the site, with each group working in their own COVID-secure bubble to ensure the continuing safety of everyone working on the project, and the local Oxford community. This includes the engineers who are now installing Northgate’s ground source heat pumps, which will eventually help to power the building.

David Stevenson, Jesus College Property Director, says “We’re delighted with how the development is moving ahead, despite everything both the recent weather and the pandemic have thrown at us. I continue to have weekly meetings with members of the BAM team and contractors, who are working so hard to ensure good progress is being made”.

Work on the accommodation floors and Tower Room continues to progress.