Major milestone for Jesus College as West Court development tops out

The Cambridge Univeristy college’s new state-of-the-art conference facility is nearing completion.

The Master of Jesus College, Professor Ian White, led the ceremony at the top of the new entrance building on Jesus Lane.

Watched by all those involved in the project, Professor White laid the final stone on the roof parapet wall. He was then presented with a commemorative engraved bricklayer’s trowel by Cocksedge Building Contractors to mark the occasion.

In 2014 Jesus College embarked on the West Court development by purchasing the Grade-II listed buildings belonging to its neighbours Wesley House.

These have now been sensitively refurbished and reconfigured to provide additional facilities, with a landscaped court at the heart of the site.

Professor White said: “We are delighted that the chance has arisen to restore the college site to its original boundaries and excited by the opportunity it brings to take the facilities we can offer to students, fellows, alumni and the wider world to a new level of excellence.

“Our West Court development has an outstanding selection of spaces and accommodation, suitable for a wide range of different uses. I would like to thank every person – both within the college and our external contractors – who has worked so hard to ensure we have such high quality facilities to complement our existing buildings.”

The facilities in West Court include a multi-functional lecture hall equipped with the latest communications technology, which can seat up to 190 delegates. There is also a dedicated events space, a café with an outside terrace area, a basement bar, and 30 hotel-standard bedrooms that will be available all year round.

Julian Huppert, director of the new Intellectual Forum that will be based at at Jesus College, said: “The West Court redevelopment is very impressive. It will be the new home for the Intellectual Forum and we look forward to welcoming people from around the University and the wider city, as well as across the country and overseas, to our wide range of events there. In addition, the cutting edge technology in the centre will allow us to run many more varied events, with people able to take part remotely.”