Somerville College is proud to announce its proposals for a flagship building at the heart of the University of Oxford’s new Radcliffe Observatory Quarter.

Our Vision

The Ratan Tata Building represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand Somerville’s teaching and learning space, support research with global impact and articulate our College’s vision of a sustainable and forward-looking academic community.

True to Somerville’s founding principles, the plans envisage a space that is both inclusive and equitable. New seminar rooms and tutor’s rooms will exist alongside spaces for shared study and interdisciplinary collaboration. The interchange of ideas and model of collegiate working will be facilitated by the space itself.

A Unique Oxford-India Friendship

The Ratan Tata Building is made possible by the largest philanthropic gift in our College’s history. The donation was made by The Tata Group in honour of the decade-long friendship between Somerville College and Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, Mr Ratan Tata (1937-2024). Mr Tata was the Honorary Patron of the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development at Somerville.

Shaped by ten years of conversation, ideas and dreams, the Ratan Tata Building articulates our shared commitment to world-class scholarship with real-world impact, and will stand as a monument to one of India’s greatest philanthropists and humanitarians. We are pleased that the Ratan Tata Building will also enable the creation of a permanent home for the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development at Somerville.

Sustainability

The Ratan Tata Building will be a highly energy efficient building designed according to Passivhaus principles, and will contribute to achieving the carbon-reduction targets adopted by the Oxford Local Plan 2036. Features will include:

  • Air-source heat pumps to provide low carbon heating and cooling (heating energy demand target 20 kWh/m2/yr
  • Energy-efficient glazing and ventilation
  • Passive Design Measures aimed at optimising the building envelope, maximising daylight and limiting overheating

A Hub for Interaction and Ideas

We are committed to creating a building that will provide a hub that benefits the Somerville College Community, its partners and neighbours for years to come. A distinctive feature of the new building is that it will transform the existing space into an outward-facing, welcoming part of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter that reflects Somerville’s inclusive ethos and invites the community in.

This hub of interactivity and interaction will include:

  • A flexible lobby and exhibition space
  • A flexible event space
  • 9 tutor offices/teaching rooms
  • Shared study space
  • Seminar rooms
  • An internal link connecting the new building to the Somerville Quad and existing buildings

Public Consultation

Bidwells and Somerville College conducted a public consultation on the plans for the Ratan Tata Building from Monday 10th March – Friday 14th March 2025 at Somerville College. Having invited community members to attend via email, social media and limited flyering, we canvassed opinion from a wide range of stakeholders, including neighbours, local politicians, internal stakeholders and the general public. You are welcome to view the consultation boards presented during the Public Consultation, kindly noting that these designs are indicative as of March 2025.

PUBLIC Consultation Boards – March 2025

Public Consultation Feedback

The feedback received from the public consultation will inform the next stage of our designs, before finalising the proposals. Once the planning application has been submitted, the planning documentation will be available to view on and comment on via the Council’s website.