'Topping Out' New College's Gradel Quad:

On Friday 1st July, New College’s Gradel Quadrangle celebrated a significant milestone with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony.  

‘Topping Out’ relates to the installation of the final piece of a structure and involve a yew branch being secured at the highest point of a new construction.  An ancient ritual, the placement of a tree or branch is a symbolic gesture, aimed to appease the woodland spirits that are displaced due to the felling of timber.  

Last week, this historic ritual united New College’s rich history with its exciting future.

 

The Top of the Gradel Quad (with the Tower House in the distance), the venue for the Topping Out Ceremony.

The ceremonial branch attached to the building; a ritual that stems from ancient Scandinavia.

Hosted by Sir Robert McAlpine, the event was attended by Chris Gradel, who has provided the core funding for the project, New College’s Warden, Miles Young, the Home Bursar, Gez Wells, David Kohn, Architect, and representatives from the many companies involved in the project.  

Core funder, Chris Gradel, pours the concrete to complete the roof.

To mark this important step in our history, there was a strong New College presence at the ceremony.  Amongst others in attendance, the current Lord Mayor of Oxford, James Fry, studied Mathematics at New College and Professor Barbara Rossi, Tutorial Fellow in Engineering, has led a team which has secured ICE (Institute of Chartered Engineers) carbon champion status for the Gradel Quadrangles.  This award recognises the sustainable promise of the building and feeds into the wider ambitions of the College to become net zero within its own operations by 2035.

Professor Barbara Rossi has helped to ensure that the Gradel Quad is a building for the future.

The Warden said in his remarks:

“The Gradel Quadrangles at New College represent the latest chapter in our 643 year story. Enabled by the generous funding by Chris Gradel and many other donors, we will now be able to house the majority of our undergraduates for their time with us, removing pressure on Oxford’s housing supply. 

At this Topping Out we can already sense that these new buildings will be an exciting addition to Oxford’s townscape. We are thrilled with the progress made by Alistair McAlpine in bringing it to life”.

 

Warden of New College, Miles Young, addresses the attendees.  The Piper reflects the Scottish heritage of the McAlpine family.