A new theatre for Downing College will be built following a generous gift.

The £7.2 million donation from The Howard Foundation, to be finalised at a short ceremony in the College at midday today, will fund the construction of the 184-seat theatre.

The building, to be called the Howard Theatre, will create a new court to the west of the College's main quadrangle, which already houses meeting facilities dating from 1986 and a 32-room accommodation building from 1994 principally funded by the Howard Foundation.

The Theatre will be used for conferences, concerts, and theatrical productions. It will also include dining/reception rooms, associated catering facilities, meeting rooms and a full basement for services and storage.

It has been designed as an environmentally sustainable building. Made of stone, it will use ground-source technology to provide heating and cooling, solar panels to generate hot water and ‘harvested' rainwater for the building and surrounding landscaping. It is designed specifically to minimise heat loss and reduce noise pollution.

The design by Quinlan and Francis Terry LLP Architects continues the College's commitment to classicism as initiated by the College's first architect, William Wilkins (1775-1839).

Mark Stroomer of Theatre Projects Consultants who are advising the Howard Foundation and Downing College on the planning and equipping of the new building, said: “The Theatre will be unique as it will combine the latest technologies within a design that has been influenced by historical precedents, including the famous Georgian Theatre at Richmond in Yorkshire, one of Britain's oldest surviving theatres.”

Cambridge biochemist Dr. Alan Howard, who came up to Downing from the City of Norwich School in 1948 to read Natural Sciences and is an Honorary Fellow of the College, said:

“I owe a tremendous debt to Downing College and the University of Cambridge, and it gives me great pleasure as Chairman of the Trustees to make this Gift.

“I am delighted that the new premises will be completed during 2009, during the University's 800th Anniversary celebrations, and I hope that other alumni who are in a position to do so will take the opportunity to contribute to the University's current appeal.”

The Master of Downing College, Professor Barry Everitt said: “The College is very grateful to the Howard Foundation and Dr Alan Howard for this splendid new building which will use modern technology while retaining the traditional classical architecture characteristic of Downing.”

“I am sure that it will become one of the finest theatres in Cambridge; it will be a superb facility for holding conferences and meetings at the College and will also

enhance the facilities available to the College's clubs and societies. Dr Howard's generous philanthropy has always enabled Downing to improve its ability to generate revenues through conferences to support its educational and charitable objectives.”

Main construction works will commence in November 2007 to plans already approved by the City Council.

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