Library and Library Court
These iconic buildings, designed by Gillespie, Kidd & Coia and opened in 1977, are the College's largest carbon emitters.
The copyright for these historical images of the library belongs to The Architects' Journal.
The copyright for these contemporary images of the library belongs to Worlledge Associates.
For generations of Wadham students, the Library has been a constant presence at the heart of College life – a place of study and reflection. Directly above it sits Library Court, home to student bedrooms, Fellows' teaching and research spaces, and shared communal outdoor areas.
Together, the two buildings are in urgent need of renewal. Half a century on, the buildings have hardly been touched and are the most energy inefficient on the college site.
The Challenge
- The Library is Wadham's most intensively used and much-loved space – but it is also the College's largest carbon emitter
- Library Court consumes nearly three times the UK net zero target for student residences
- Both buildings are extremely energy-inefficient and in urgent need of repair
- Delaying renovation risks escalating costs, missed carbon savings, and further degradation of spaces that are central to College life.
What will change
- Twenty student bedrooms, research and teaching spaces – ensuites and updated décor
- Fossil-free heating, secondary glazing, solar panels and biodiversity enhancements
- The Library will become fully accessible for the first time in its history
Impact
- Healthier, greener places to live, study and work
- Adding ensuites to all student rooms ends the nightly trek across a cold courtyard
- Ensuite facilities open new revenue streams from conferences and B&B guests
- The renovation will transform the buildings into models of sustainable heritage.
An opportunity to transform College life
At the heart of student life at Wadham, the Library and Library Court together represent one of the most urgent and tangible opportunities for donor impact. Thanks to generous support from visionary alumni, momentum is building for our highest priority sustainability project.
However, we still have a remaining funding gap of c.£3.5m for the Library renovation and c.£650,000 for Library Court. Funding must be secured by mid-2026. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform spaces that shaped your time at Wadham.
Every gift helps to close the gap and leaves a lasting and visible legacy, for students today and in the future.
Library naming and recognition opportunities
- Group study desk
- £50,000
- Bookshelf (Engineering or Law)
- £50,000
- Subject collection
- £100,000
- Individual study carrels
- £150,000
- Group study room
- £200,000
- Lower floor
- £500,000
- Name the Wadham Library (subject to College approval)
- £3 million
Library Court naming and recognition opportunities
- Student bedroom
- £25,000
- Fellows' teaching and research spaces
- £40,000
- Upper level with glazed canopy
- £100,000
- Name the Library Court (subject to College approval)
- £650,000
All naming opportunities are in perpetuity.
Get in touch
We would be thrilled for you to join us as we lead the world in sustainable heritage, improve student life and wellbeing, and build a College that is fit for the future.
To find out more, or to discuss how you could support this work, please contact:
Julie Christiane Hage
Fellow and Development Director
julie.hage@wadham.ox.ac.uk
+44 (0)1865 277953
Dr Barnaby Norman
Deputy Director of Development
barnaby.norman@wadham.ox.ac.uk
+44 (0)1865 277542