Homerton to replace Great Hall with £7m development

College is to cease using its Great Hall, built in 1889, as the regular place for students and fellows to dine

Homerton students will, in the future, no longer have their daily meals in the Great HallCMGlee

by Jack Higgins

This article is 10 years old

Monday August 8 2016, 4:11pm

Homerton College is to spend £7m on building a brand new dining hall which will replace its Great Hall as the main venue for students and fellows to dine.

Architects have been invited to submit proposals for the college's new “emblematic centrepiece,” which will be 1,400m² in size, from which six firms will be shortlisted for interview.

The Great Hall, which was the largest dining hall of any Cambridge college when it was built in 1889, is no longer deemed fit for purpose. It will, however, continue to be used for performances or group activities.

The college's bursar, Deborah Griffin, told Cambridge News that Homerton “has become increasingly known for its sociable and friendly atmosphere”.

“[W]e are ambitious to express this in our architecture, to have a building that reflects the college's values and energies,” she added.

Malcolm Reading, who is organising the contest, said: “This is a fascinating project because it reflects a contemporary preoccupation shared by many leading organisations: how to balance the formal with the informal?

“The college is seeking a team that can create spaces that encourage everyday sociability and serendipitous connections, and also distinguished set-piece ceremonial events.”

Building work on this new project is due to start in 2018, with Homerton also set to open a new £8.5m accommodation block in the coming months.

Support Varsity

Varsity is the independent newspaper for the University of Cambridge, established in its current form in 1947. In order to maintain our editorial independence, our print newspaper and news website receives no funding from the University of Cambridge or its constituent Colleges.

We are therefore almost entirely reliant on advertising for funding and we expect to have a tough few months and years ahead.

In spite of this situation, we are going to look at inventive ways to look at serving our readership with digital content and of course in print too!

Therefore we are asking our readers, if they wish, to make a donation from as little as £1, to help with our running costs. Many thanks, we hope you can help!