Oxford
Year
2022
Installer
Technology
Deliverables
C.U.in
Wolfson College
Challenge: Wolfson College’s original buildings featured single-glazed aluminium windows and outdated gas heating, resulting in high energy consumption and carbon emissions. The Grade II listing imposed strict aesthetic requirements, particularly around window design, while full campus operation had to be maintained throughout the retrofit – adding layers of logistical and technical complexity.
Solution: Over 1,000 heritage-style windows were replaced with high-performance triple-glazed units using C.U.in technology, achieving mid-pane U-values as low as 0.4 W/m²K within 28mm profiles. This allowed for an 80% reduction in heating demand while preserving the visual integrity of the brutalist architecture. The glazing upgrade, paired with air-source heat pumps and ultra-thin facade insulation, enabled Wolfson College to slash its carbon footprint with minimal disruption and no compromise on design.
Project summary:
Wolfson College, a graduate college of the University of Oxford, embarked on an ambitious decarbonisation project to bring its iconic brutalist buildings into alignment with 21st-century sustainability goals. Designed by Powell & Moya and completed in 1974, the Grade II listed structures were retrofitted with advanced glazing, services, and insulation strategies – carefully planned to preserve their architectural heritage. As part of a £8 million upgrade, the college integrated triple-glazed C.U.in units within new thermally broken aluminium frames to significantly reduce heat loss while maintaining the original sightlines and design intent. This initiative forms a key element in Wolfson’s roadmap to achieving net zero for its Scope-1 and Scope-2 carbon emissions.