Renewing the iconic Stirling Building
Work has started on a major refurbishment to safeguard the University of Cambridge’s Grade II* listed Stirling Building. Designed by James Stirling and completed in 1968, the building is one of the most significant works of post-war British architecture.
The refurbishment will transform the building into a modern, flexible and sustainable academic hub for the Faculty of History, the Seeley Library and the wider Sidgwick Site, with completion scheduled for 2028.
“Reaching this milestone has taken a huge amount of collaboration across the project team, the University and our delivery partners.
“The refurbishment brings renewed life to an extraordinary building, retaining its distinctive character and sense of architectural intensity, while creating more open, inclusive and sustainable spaces for teaching, research and collaboration across the Sidgwick Site. The start of construction marks an important step in securing its future as a place of scholarship and exchange for the next generation.”
The restored building will offer transformed learning and working environments, creating a collaborative forum at the heart of the University’s Sidgwick Site. The ground and first floors will be opened up to create more permeable and connected spaces, while the upper floors will provide offices and new postgraduate and research environments for the Faculty of History. The project will create better connected, more welcoming, high-quality spaces that enhance staff and student wellbeing, encourage collaboration and improve space efficiency and utilisation, exemplifying the vision and principles of the University’s Strategic Estate Framework.
“For those who know the Stirling Building, its iconic design and character are unforgettable. But despite its bold architectural identity, the building is no longer fit for purpose. It lacks the inclusive, collaborative, flexible and sustainable spaces needed for the calibre of teaching and research that define our University today.”
“The sensitive renewal of the building that this project delivers will ensure that it remains not only a landmark of design, but a vibrant, accessible and sustainable home for world-leading scholarship and learning for the next century.”