For one day every year the College staff handover the reins of control of their department. This year the Capital Projects lead handed over to Harrison in Lower Sixth of H House who conducted a site visit of the St Andrew’s Project and prepared a report on the progress to date. Read Harrison’s report for his assessment…
“With the St Andrew’s Church project well underway the past week has seen increasingly more progress being made.
Almost all the roof insulation is now in place and we are now waiting for Oak rafters, so that the tiling of the roof can begin. Fortunately, the surprisingly good condition of the roof has meant that much of it was able to remain, keeping its historical value whilst being entirely functional. The tiles used have even been hand-crafted to give a more authentic look.
The roof and stained-glass windows up close show the magnificent architecture and designs, some of which date all the way back to the 14th century. Harrison commented having been inside the church “how they managed to build such a building as magnificent with the longevity of St Andrews I will never understand given their limited knowledge and tools”.
The next task is to oil the wood in the ceilings having already oiled the wood in the clocktower which will highlight its lovely colours and preserving it at the same time. Despite not being able to complete the inside of the church until the roof has been completed, due to the scaffolding, you can already envision the architect’s plans.
The plans will allow the College to maximise the potential space within the church when the work is completed including enough space to house 11,000 books plus a meeting room, private study, group study and a more social area with an open plan feel and joined by glass panels filling the archways.
It really will look spectacular. I believe that it is the historical aspect of St Andrews that sets it apart from other study spaces. It will have one of the most modern and effective designs possible, yet integrated with older style architecture from the 14th, 16th and 19th centuries, the history it contains is hard to match.
It’s this contrast that I feel makes the project so worthwhile. In the modern era it is increasingly concerning how the historical value and condition of buildings are fading yet I am pleased to say that with the pre-existing condition of St Andrews, this is not the case here at Bradfield. We are hoping this will be finished by Spring 2024 and cannot wait to see it in full use by students and staff alike.”
If you are interested in learning more about the St Andrew’s Project please visit the St Andrew’s Project webpage.
