July 7 2025

The University of St Andrews is pressing forward with WilkinsonEyre Architects to build a 'New College' housing a Business School and the School of International Relations.

Spanning three historic town centre buildings, including the A-listed Madras College, the plans call for their full refurbishment and integration within 1.7 hectares of newly landscaped grounds. Located off South Street, the campus follows the relocation of Madras College to St Andrews West and incorporates the neighbouring B-listed Music Building and unlisted Geography building. The remains of Blackfriars Chapel, a scheduled monument, are also included.

New build elements earmarked for land vacated by several post-war buildings will adhere to the height and form of the centrepiece Madras College building, whose townscape presence will be maintained by a southerly open space.

Forming a sequence of enclosed spaces the college will centre on a new flat roof membrane structure, designed in conjunction with Buro Happold, standing independent of the Neo Jacobean Madras College building within the current courtyard. This will enable stonework to be stabilised, cleaned and repaired and improve thermal performance.

Justifying enclosure, the applicant wrote: "The University’s desire to enclose the Madras College Building courtyard, will make its use a central part of the movement and gathering of people in the wider scheme, used throughout the year, and in all weathers. The enclosed courtyard will become a pivotal space within the overall scheme, helping to support a wide range of activities – both planned and spontaneous – and including the opportunity for public access to this distinctive interior space."

The principal facade of the New College draws inspiration from the old with a symmetrical form arranged as a central range flanked by two 'pavilions'. A covered colonnade defines the ground floor.

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