Exeter College - A Fixfast Case Study

Exeter College -
Cohen Quad

Jericho, Oxford
HomeCase StudiesExeter College Cohen Quad
Project Details
Architect: Alison Brooks
Location: Jericho, Oxford
Main contractor: Mace
Sub contractor: Roles Broderick Limited
Expanding Exeter College’s 700-year-old campus in the heart of Oxford was a privilege given to Alison Brooks Architects: developing Cohen Quad, a hub for students including living accommodation for 90, an auditorium, seminar rooms, social learning spaces, an archive, a café, roof terraces, offices and fellows’ accommodation.

In March 2017, Exeter College formally opened Cohen Quad. Named for the parents of Exeter College alumnus Sir Ronald Cohen, this new quadrangle transforms the College and allows it to provide 90 additional study bedrooms for students, teaching and performance space, a reading room and climate-controlled storage for the College’s special collections, and a hub for social learning.

Student rooms and fellows’ studies are enclosed by patterned stainless steel that folds across wall and roof surfaces, sitting on a stone-clad ‘base’ that houses the quads’ public spaces.

The Rimex tiling in the checker-board pattern really highlights the stunning dormer windows and the beautiful curve of the tiles from the roofline wrap around the roof and down the walls creating a seamless cloak around the building. 17,000 iridescent stainless steel shingles adorn this roof, and the tiles are of a wonderful muted bronze and champagne colour with an unusual texture – catching - but not reflecting the sunlight.

The roof construction was developed in close conjunction with Roles Broderick to facilitate a curved rain screen cladding with the waterproofing layer below. The entire roof build-up, from secondary steel supports to the finished Rimex Paladin stainless steel shingles, was installed by the Roles Broderick team.

Utilising our Duramet hard metal range of cleats with correctly specified fasteners ensured the superb workmanship created by the team was flawless.

The roofing envelope package also included anodised aluminium dormer window cladding in an interlocking panel system with green and felt flat roof areas.

Roles Broderick won first place with their prestigious project in the Hard Metal Roofing Category in the 2017 UK Roofing Awards hosted by NFRC.

“We were given excellent technical and sales support from Fixfast. All stainless steel fixings and shingle clips were supplied in a timely and efficient manner. These factors contributed to Roles Broderick Roofing Ltd winning the NFRC Roofing Award for 2017.”
Ben Clark Operations Director