Local firm nabs work on Amanda Levete-designed buildings

Local contractor Beard has won an 拢11.5m deal to build a brace of new buildings at Oxford University鈥檚 Wadham College.

Beard Wadham College

How the new buildings will look when built

Designed by Amanda Levete鈥檚 AL_A practice, the buildings will replace the 1950s built Goddard 好色先生TV. The first building will be aimed at visiting school students while the second is an undergraduate building including study areas and kitchens.

The scheme is being bankrolled by Hong Kong businessman William Doo along with college Honorary Fellow Lee Shau Kee 鈥 the majority owner of developer Henderson and Hong Kong鈥檚 second richest man with an estimated personal fortune of $24 billion. Each will have a building named after them. Work is due to finish in 2020.

Beard, which has a turnover of 拢144m, said part of the build will be manufactured off-site to speed it up and improve safety and quality of construction.

The college was founded back in 1610 and comprises 200 graduate students and around 450 undergraduates.

Former students include author Melvyn Bragg and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.