Møller Centre extension

Client:

The Møller Centre, Churchill College

Size:

1540m²

Value:

£5m

Status:

completed 2015

BIM:

Level 2

Møller Centre extension

The Møller Centre is a residential executive training and conference facility attracting both national and international clients. The striking original building, designed by Danish architect Henning Larsen was completed in 1992. Set in the grounds of Churchill College in Cambridge, the long horizontal building form, punctuated with its octagonal tower, provides a prominent and identifiable feature on the western approach to the City. 

Following a competitive interview process, rhp were selected to work with the Centre to provide much needed additional and improved facilities to maintain the venue’s reputation for highest quality. 

The scheme offers a sensitive response to the site context – lying within the West Cambridge Conservation Area and adjacent to Grade II listed College buildings - and carefully respects the existing building detail. The development of our design, to deliver additional bedrooms, improved training rooms, upgraded kitchen facilities, and administration areas, has been in close collaboration with the Danish firm 3XN who, having links with Henning Larsen, established the initial strategic approach for the Møller Foundation. 

New facilities are accommodated in a series of unobtrusive or ‘quiet’ interventions including a new top-lit basement, a second north pavilion, an extruded extension of the main horizontal building form to the west and a triangular infill area off the reception between the main building and the octagonal tower.

The client is delighted with the seamless integration of the new elements – and at the same time enjoys the operational and spatial benefits the new areas offer without any compromise to the clarity of form and material quality of the original building of which they are rightly proud and protective.

Careful planning of construction sequence and logistics has enabled the Centre to remain fully operational throughout the site operation.

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