Selwyn marks another milestone in development masterplan

The main structure of a new £7.5 million Neo-Classical style student accommodation block has now been built as part of phase II of the masterplan - complete with 40 en-suite bedrooms and nine shared kitchens

A coping stone was laid at the ceremony by benefactors Dr Chris and Mrs Ann Dobson, whose Ann D Foundation made the building possible.

Dr Dobson and his wife first met on D Staircase at Selwyn, where they were both students. He subsequently returned to the College in 1998, where he completed a PhD in Materials Science. He is now an honorary fellow.

The Master of Selwyn, Professor Richard Bowring presented the College benefactors with a gift of a crystal whiskey decanter set complete with glasses, and engraved with the College crest. He said the building was a magnificent addition to the development masterplan:

“It will create a new centre of gravity in the College, giving us much-needed space for accommodation and undergraduate facilities and providing Grange Road with another splendid landmark – we owe a great debt of gratitude to the Ann D Foundation for its continued support”.

The new building sits next to the £7.8 million student accommodation and administration block completed in 2005.

The Selwyn masterplan was created by architects Porphyrios Associates of London and was designed to be sympathetic to Selwyn’s existing Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

Bob Ensch, Area manager for Morgan Ashurst, the company which carried out the building work said it had been a privilege to be involved with the project:

“We’ve been working with staff and students at Selwyn for four years and although we’re experienced in dealing with building student accommodation, it is particularly satisfying to deliver buildings which are sympathetic to the historic city of Cambridge”

The marriage between old and new will be progressed further when work begins on landscaping and planting around the new building in Spring.