Cheng Yu Tung Building

Cheng Yu Tung Building

MICA Architects

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

ARCHITECTS
Mica Architects

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Bam Construction

SERVICE ENGINEER
Elementa Consulting

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Smith And Wallwork, Smith & Wallwork

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Bidwells

DESIGN TEAM
Stuart Cade, Mandy Franz, Victoria Timberlake, Jonathan Evans

PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
Mica

COST CONSULTANT
Gleeds

AREA
8090 M²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Oxford, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Mixed Use Architecture

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Hufton+Crow

English description provided by arechitects.

MICA has recently completed a prominent and unique mixed-use building in central Oxford, the Cheng Yu Tung building for Jesus College, which brings together teaching, retail, research, NHS healthcare, and student living in a third quad for the Elizabethan college.

A BACK, TO A FRONT

The scheme is a major addition to Oxford’s evolving streets and city center providing high-quality new retail space, combined with new teaching and social facilities for the student community, turning a previously unsightly back, into a positive front.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Hufton+Crow
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

The building and its extensive new landscape significantly increase step-free access to the historic multi-level College and transforms the legibility and transparency, of a traditionally closed environment.

CONTEXTUAL DESIGN

The design of the building takes cues from the existing College architecture and context to provide a striking contemporary design in a sensitive urban context.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Hufton+Crow

Clipsham Stone, the original College stone has been used, and carefully detailed to reference the existing College and provide varied facades responding to different environments.

 At its heart, two unique communal spaces are designed to be seen from the streets providing active frontage and a lantern on the street.

WORKING HARD

The scheme is central to Oxford's first new all-electric building complimented by on-site energy generation with a (concealed) Photovoltaic array and a Ground Source Heat Pump, both successfully navigating Oxford's onerous skyline and archaeological rules.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

Harnessing embodied carbon the scheme reuses an existing concrete structure, with the majority of new structure being carbon-negative cross-laminated timber.

A RICH MIX

The building brings together teaching, dining, NHS healthcare, retail, socializing, faith spaces, cafe, exhibition, roof terraces, common rooms, well-being, study, and residential, doubling the accommodation on the site and bringing together distinct functions in a complimentary way.

STRIKING NEW SPACE

At its center, a tiered forum provides a gathering space for the College as well as a new facility for interdisciplinary digital research and immersive display & visualization.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

Above a new generous entrance, a gatehouse is topped by a new tower room gallery with striking views, at close quarters, across the Dreaming Spires of Oxford and a new Landscaped Market Street.

SUSTAINABILITY

With longevity, sustainability, and future climate in mind, the design team worked to ensure that these aspects were firmly embedded in the new building.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

The project has the highest sustainability targets and delivers on embodied and operational carbon, water usage, and biodiversity gain, integrating elements from the local Oxford Natural Resources Impact Assessment (NRIA), WELL, and BREEAM metrics and standards.

Harnessing embodied carbon, the scheme reuses an existing concrete structure – the existing basement slabs, foundations, and walls were retained, reducing the amount of new structure required. The upper floors are constructed of cross-laminated timber, a carbon-negative material that provides benefits through carbon sequestration.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Hufton+Crow
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

The locally sourced, natural stone façade connects the building to its surrounding heritage while providing the benefits of reducing the need for manufactured products and offering extended durability to suit the long design life of the building.

Embodied carbon calculations were carried out showing that the building meets the RIBA 2030 targets.

Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson
Cheng Yu Tung Building
© Jim Stephenson

The project has been hugely beneficial for the College, receiving many positive responses, highlighting the benefit of the openness, clarity of design, and interest given to the street.

The new retail facilities offer opportunities for new ventures which are currently taking foot in Oxford and within the College, the new spaces offer new jobs and opportunities for academic engagement.


Cheng Yu Tung Building
Plan - Basement floor
Cheng Yu Tung Building
Plan - Ground floor
Cheng Yu Tung Building
Plan - First floor
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Plan - Second floor
Cheng Yu Tung Building
Plan - Third floor
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Plan - Fourth floor


Cheng Yu Tung Building
Plan - Site
Cheng Yu Tung Building
Plan - Site


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Elevation
Cheng Yu Tung Building
Elevation
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Elevation
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