Selwyn opens Phase II of development masterplan

Guests of honour at the opening ceremony were benefactors Dr Chris and Mrs Ann Dobson, who have donated £5 million for the project through the Ann D Foundation. Mrs Dobson was charged with cutting the ribbon on the new building. Dr Dobson was an undergraduate at the College and subsequently returned in 1998, completing a PhD in Materials Science. He is now an honorary fellow.

In his speech the Master of Selwyn, Professor Richard Bowring, thanked the donors: “The ability to make money is a rare gift; the ability to save money is a rare gift, but the ability to give money away is surely the most selfless gift of all. This magnificent building is a fitting tribute to Chris and Ann’s enormous generosity.”

The Vice-Chancellor said: “A gift to a college is a gift to all of collegiate Cambridge and I celebrate what is here. The Dobsons’ generosity is beyond financial generosity, it is a generosity of spirit from which the University benefits enormously.”

There are five phases to the development masterplan, which will eventually see the construction of a new college library and an auditorium, in addition to the student accommodation and administration facilities.

The buildings are organised around a new court for the College, named Ann's Court, in honour of Mrs Dobson.

World-renowned architects Porphyrios Associates of London worked hard to ensure the design would be sympathetic to Selwyn's existing Victorian and Edwardian architecture, creating contrast with the modern architecture of the University's adjacent Sidgwick Site.

The company which carried out the building work, Morgan Ashurst, has been working with Selwyn College for four years and representatives of the company were also present at the ceremony to see the culmination of their work.

Eastern Region Managing Director John Homer said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this project. It is a fantastic building which really adds to the College and the University.”

The company also worked on the first phase of the project – a new administration building and 44 rooms of student accommodation completed in 2005.
Selwyn College, celebrated its 125th anniversary last year. It was founded in memory of George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand and one of the leading figures of his day. Many of its alumni have become prominent in public life, including broadcaster Clive Anderson, actor Hugh Laurie and writer Robert Harris.

Photograph: Tom Catchesides Photography