Launching in Autumn 2022: New Accommodation at the Sir Geoffrey Arthur Buildings

NEWS |

Our 5-year journey is almost complete! Pembroke College’s £14m development of the Sir Geoffrey Arthur Building (GAB) site has progressed steadily since demolition commenced in November 2020, with first occupants due to move in in Autumn 2022.

The new Thames and Cherwell Buildings will provide 77 ensuite bedrooms for graduate students (including four accessible en-suite bedrooms), four studio flats, 10 communal kitchens/living spaces, a large common room, laundry facilities, a creative space secure bike storage and ancillary facilities. Meanwhile, the new Isis Building will house four riverside studio flats for early career academics.

The GAB redevelopment means that as of the 2022/23 academic year, Pembroke will be able to house 60% of our graduate community in college accommodation throughout their course (up from 25%) and have dedicated accommodation for our academics for the first time.
To celebrate the project’s current success and reaching the milestone of its highest construction point, the GAB Project Team hosted a ‘Topping Out Ceremony’ in late March with consultants
MICA Architects and Beard Construction.

Sustainability has been at the forefront of this new development from its inception, with the buildings being designed to deliver key energy-saving principles and performance, for example:

  • a measurable carbon emissions reduction of a minimum of 25%, through energy efficient boilers, maximising natural ventilation, natural lighting, high performance glazing, and waste water heat recovery technology;
  • the pre-installed infrastructure to insert alternative energy supplies to gas when new technologies become viable;
  • ultra-low energy lights and ‘absence detection’ lighting
  • new, secure bike storage to encourage and help facilitate carbon-neutral travel for residents;
  • a new bio-diverse internal garden/Quad.

Rohan Watt, MCR President said: “We’re thrilled that Pembroke’s new graduate accommodation will enable more students than ever to enjoy the benefits of collegiate life. The rooms are superb and were designed with the needs of graduates in mind.”

Kathryn White, MCR Vice President added: “The new GAB is in the perfect location for enjoying student life – close to main college, departments, and social activities, from great pubs to the college boathouse! It will be a wonderful asset to our thriving graduate community for years to come."

If you are a current or prospective Pembroke graduate, check out our Graduate Accommodation page for more information on how to be one of the first to occupy these new rooms!

GAB Collage