Working towards decarbonisation at Magdalen College, Oxford
Max Fordham has been working with Magdalen College, Oxford to support them in their move towards net zero carbon.
Text
In 2022, the practice developed a comprehensive decarbonisation plan for the college estate that defined a roadmap to net zero carbon. In 2024, the practice successfully assisted the college in their application for Salix funding as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Salix finance supports organisations to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions by providing funding and grants. Read more about the scheme here: Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme | Salix Finance
In addition to helping to secure funding for Magdalen College, Max Fordham is providing MEP design and acoustic consultancy for two 19th-century student accommodation buildings and one 1950s family home. Gas boilers in the buildings will be replaced with air source heat pumps which use low Global Warming Potential (GWP) R290 refrigerant and provide both heating and hot water. Max Fordham and Original Field Architects worked together to deliver a design that is compliant with Salix funding requirements, sensitive to the historic buildings and suits the needs of the college.
Quote
"At Magdalen we have found that decarbonising historic buildings is a delicate balancing act - preserving the past while preparing for a sustainable future. The project team have come up with some innovative ideas and solutions and I look forward to realising those during the implementation stage this summer.”