The Science Oxford Centre and Wood Centre for Innovation Complete

— DATE
13^TH March 2019

— CATEGORY
News

Stansfeld Park is handed over to the Oxford Trust.

This week the Oxford Trust received keys to the new Science Oxford Centre (SOC) and adjoining Wood Centre for Innovation (WCFI), located at Stansfeld Park in Headington Quarry, Oxford.

From September 2019, this unique £13m development – designed by ADP – will welcome primary-aged children from across the region to experience a wide range of STEM-inspired activities in the Science Oxford Centre’s exhibition zone, workshop and woodland. It will also be home to some of the region’s most exciting new high-tech businesses and entrepreneurs – in the stunning, purpose-built Wood Centre for Innovation, named after the Trust’s patrons Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood.

The keys were handed over on 12^th March at a special ceremony, which was attended by staff from the Trust, Beard Construction, Sir Martin and Lady Wood and the Leader of the City Council Susan Brown. The Trust also unveiled a specially-commissioned sculpture to mark the occasion. Designed by local artist David Harbour, the Ohm sculpture celebrates the Woods’ ninetieth birthdays and the amazing contribution they have made to science and innovation in Oxfordshire.

Sir Martin and Lady Wood opening the Stansfeld Centre

The Science Oxford Centre will be the UK’s first integrated indoor-outdoor science education centre for primary and early years children, delivering exciting, curiosity-based activities that combine both natural and physical sciences. The Exploration Zone at the centre’s core is a hands-on science exhibition that challenges children to explore, experiment, observe and share their discoveries through scientific play. The surrounding 15-acre woodland area, complete with ponds, walkways and grassland, will offer young people a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy outdoor – as well as indoor – STEM activities.

The Wood Centre for Innovation will provide purpose-built office space and support for start-up and grow-on science and tech companies. The new centre is located close to clinical research facilities at local hospitals and Oxford Brookes University. This advantageous location perfectly positions the centre’s high-tech business residents at the core of transformational research and discovery, enabling easy access to this fast-paced and growing community. The site also boasts a café and flexible 100-seat theatre venue that will be a fantastic resource for the local community and schools, as well as hosting business and public events.

Steve Burgess, CEO of the Oxford Trust, says: “Our mission – as established by Sir Martin and Lady Wood back in 1985 when they founded the Trust – is to encourage the pursuit of science and enterprise, and it has been a long-held dream to develop a site that helps us do just that. These two new centres will enable us to inspire more young people about science and add capacity to Oxfordshire’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.”

The project has just been announced as a finalist of the Constructing Excellence SECBE Awards for Project of the Year. The winner will be announced on 27^th June.

Written by:

Director
Wayne Dobbins

- Role
Director

- Studio
Oxford

Wayne Dobbins

As a director, Wayne is primarily responsible for managing the Oxford studio. He is also involved in the continuous development of the practice BIM strategy and our integrated design joint venture, Corde, as well as being a lead support for our India studio. Wayne’s key strengths are in the education and community sectors, and his expertise ranges from developing school briefs through to managing higher education frameworks.

Outside of work, Wayne is a school governor, captains a squash team, and occasionally shows glimpses of his former county-standard golfing. He juggles these with being a father of two amazing daughters while building a new house with SIPs.

Related projects

Stansfeld Park: A centre for science in 18 acres of woodland

As a city famous for education, Oxford was lacking in science education centres for younger children. It was also direly in need of space for smaller science and innovation companies. With this in mind, the Oxford Trust and Science Oxford teamed up to create a science education and innovation centre in the East Oxford suburb […]

The Swan + Meadowbrook Schools: Oxford’s first new schools in half a century

Oxford has grown rapidly over the last 50 years, but a lack of new schools has placed a real strain on resources. To remedy this, we were appointed to design a completely new secondary school in the northern suburb of Marston, along with an Alternative Provision (AP) Academy on a nearby site.

Aureus School: Putting wellbeing at the centre of learning

Forming part of a new community being built on the outskirts of Didcot, Aureus School needed to serve as one of the beating hearts of that community, echoing and supporting its values. Didcot is emerging as a technology town of the future, and the new school’s curriculum would reflect this with a focus on STEAM […]

Clay Farm Community Centre: The heart of a new, sustainable community

Perfectly placed at the heart of the new Trumpington Southern Fringe neighbourhood in Cambridge, Clay Farm Community Centre is a focal point for both its existing and emerging communities.

SportsPark Pavilion: Clever use of space for university athletes

Built in 1938, the University of Reading’s sports pavilion was in dire need of replacement. The University chose us to design a new pavilion, located south-west of the existing building so that it could be demolished after the new building was complete.

Oxford Castle: From historic prison to prestigious hotel

Oxford Castle is one of the city’s oldest sites, with a history stretching back almost a thousand years. It had most recently been used as a prison, but following the prison’s closure, Oxfordshire County Council wanted to open up the Castle as a destination for the whole city to enjoy.