Investcorp Building

2015 saw the opening of the iconic Investcorp Building on Woodstock Road. Designed by renowned architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, the building takes the form of a sweeping ‘bridge’, connecting the historic home of the Middle East Centre with St Antony’s College. The building spans four levels, which house the Middle East Centre’s growing Library and Archive material, as well as state of the art lecture theatre, study and gallery spaces.

Tours of the Investcorp Building

Tours are by appointment only. Please note that it is not possible to view the building during weekends or term time.

• To book a tour please contact mec@sant.ox.ac.uk and provide your contact information, aim of visit and group size (maximum group size 20).
• Your tour will be led by one of our administrators and will last around 30-45 minutes.
• Your tour will give you access to the interior gallery space, lecture theatre, and library reading room, though please note that we are unable to guarantee access to all these spaces for every tour.
• Tours are free, however we welcome a small donation to our Albert Hourani Scholarship fund that is awarded yearly to an MPhil student in Modern Middle Eastern Studies. To donate please visit University donation website.

Find out more about the story of her building, captured in this film by HENI Talks.

Facts & Figures

• Designed by internationally renowned architect Dame Zaha Hadid.
• Named in recognition of the global investment group, Investcorp’s remarkable support for the construction of the building – Mr Nemir Kirdar was the founder of Investcorp.
• Commissioned in 2006 | groundbreaking in January 2013 | completed and opened by Dame Zaha Hadid in May 2015.
• 1200m² total floor area.
• 900m² total footprint area.
• 117 seat underground lecture theatre.
• Library – 26 reader stations | doubling of the original library’s book storage capacity | electronic stacks.
• Archive – 7 reader stations | provision of environmentally controlled storage for photographic and paper collections.
• Gallery and kitchen – where library and archive readers, staff and students of the Middle East Centre can enjoy tea and coffee provided by the Middle East Centre.

Awards

• Lux Award 2015 (for Education and Healthcare Lighting Project of the Year).
• Oxford Preservation Trust New Building Award 2015.
• The Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA South Award 2016.
• RIBA National Award 2016 – given to buildings across the UK recognised as significant contributions to architecture.
• World Architecture Festival 2016 Award in Higher Education and Research Category – Completed Buildings.

Photography of Investcorp Building courtesy of @Luke Hayes and NAARO

In the Media

• “Zaha Hadid expressed an architecture and form that allows the interior of the spaces to enjoy the view of the urban setting while cladding the building in a material that says ‘I am the future’”.  – Judges of the World Architecture Festival 2016 awards
• “ […] Great virtuosity and technical skill. […] The building weaves through the site to connect the existing protected buildings and trees, while its stainless steel facade reflects its surroundings. A surprising feeling of moulded intimacy, in contrast with the weighty and beautiful concrete forms. – RIBA Journal                                                           
• An iconic extension to the Middle East Centre […] where a radical vision meets a pragmatic solution. Beyond its practical function, it has created a distinctive landmark on Oxford’s architectural landscape. A sinuous, softly reflective steel-clad form, seemingly floating, suspended between its Victorian and Edwardian neighbours. – BAM

• Complements the college’s ongoing development […] maintains the detached character of the college’s current buildings, allowing them to be read as separate elements, while introducing a contemporary building that conveys the past, present and future evolution of the college, university and city. – ArchDaily
• […] undoubtedly Hadid’s most intriguing small building, one that she originally described as “a soft bridge”. […] The high-tech vibe of the steel shell gives way to a series of beautifully crafted interiors. – The Independent
• Exquisite […] clearly the work of artistry and landscaping as well as structural ingenuity. […] Innovative and graceful, the Investcorp Building is destined to play its part in various forms of bridge building […] a building that, without bombast or sensation, suggests at least some way forward on all fronts, a tentative bridge to a more enlightened future.  – The Telegraph