Chetwynd Court Development
King’s College Cambridge

Abell Nepp won the design competition to redevelop the Chetwynd Court. The Court is behind the Grade I Wilkins Building which stands opposite King’s Chapel on the Front Court. It is also surrounded by the Grade II Scott Building and the Keynes Building.

The brief was to expand the existing Keynes’ Hall, refurbish the surrounding ground floors of the listed Wilkins (Grade I) and Scott (Grade II) Buildings and improve accessibility. Considering planning and conservation concerns and inherent spatial and acoustic compromises to the Hall, we proposed a bold vision for a new performance space underneath the court causing minimal impact to the heritage setting.

The concert-quality multipurpose auditorium is linked to an above-ground glazed ‘Pavilion’. The project significantly increases College space, does not impact the heritage facades and provides accessible links to the Chetwynd Court buildings.