Buildings & the College Environment

St Cross aims to provide all College members with the best facilities possible, and the significance of philanthropy for this goal cannot be underestimated.

Our move to St Giles’ in 1981, and the significant long-term lease from Pusey House, were made possible by a major donation from Richard Blackwell, facilitated by Per Saugman. Most recently, the West Wing Building was completed with generous support from alumni and friends, providing 53 new student rooms, a library, a lecture theatre, and meeting spaces.

Although St Cross started as a small College with only 5 students, we now have more than 600 at any one time. Given the size of our site (which can house 11% of our students), we need to invest in new premises. We also follow a regular programme of improvements to the College estate, including projects to bolster environmental efficiency.

All donations towards the Buildings and College Environment fund will support this programme and lay foundations for our long-term plans: a commitment to decarbonise and provide more student accommodation. On that note, a significant opportunity has arisen for the College to expand its site for the first time since 1981 and acquire 100 new student rooms in Wellington Square. We are seeking to complete funding for this project by the end of 2026, and for more information, please contact development@stx.ox.ac.uk.

All gifts this year will also be matched (doubled if single, tripled if regular), thanks to a generous matching gift. Match funds will support the Community Bursary programme.

Gemma Donaldson, Bursar

Strengthening the St Cross community is at the heart of the College’s plans, and providing buildings and spaces that enable that community to thrive is crucial to our aspiration. The 60th Anniversary Campaign is an opportunity for us, as stewards of the College estate, to ensure that our spaces are fit for purpose for Fellows and students – developed and enhanced for their needs now and into the future.

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