As part of their development strategy, Magdalene College needed to expand their student accommodation portfolio. Together with this, the college saw the additional financial benefit of renting out the unoccupied accommodation during vacation periods.

Therefore, the scheme was further developed to include conference facilities and to upgrade the specification of the accommodation. This enabled the college to target the active Cambridge conference market and provided the college with an additional business income.

Furthermore, the college was able to fund the project through a grant from the Cripps Foundation which provides financial support to developing colleges.

The development features 41 student bedrooms, full disabled access, dining area, auditorium for 144 people, public gallery with exhibition space, seminar rooms, catering facilities, bar, music practice room and computer room.

Davis Langdon provided Project Management and Cost Management services for this 2-stage design and construct contract.

Davis Langdon were responsible to the College for overseeing all stages of the procurement of the project and the management of all the processes that lead to it’s completion, together with managing and interfacing with external consultants, in-house college departments and contractors in order to ensure the College’s brief, budget and programme were maintained.

The heart of the design is the use of high quality traditional materials, bringing modern amenities to time-honoured surroundings.

Stone floors lead from the entrance up a sweeping staircase to the public gallery where substantial exposed oak trusses bring a sense of grandeur.

Finely appointed en-suite bedrooms provide accommodation for students during term and conference delegates during the summer.