Teddy Hall marks major milestone in NSE development

4 Jul 2025

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The Hall community and its Norham St Edmund (NSE) project partners celebrated the Topping Out ceremony of NSE, a traditional celebration for when a building reaches the highest point of construction, on Friday 20 June.

College Fellows, alumni, staff and project partners watched a livestream of the Principal and the Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond, University of Oxford Chancellor and Hall Visitor, sign a commemorative plaque which was lifted and mounted into place on the roof of the tallest building, the Villa. Representatives of the College and NSE partners took turns in helping to secure the plaque, marking the occasion together whilst accompanied by Fellow and horn player Professor Henrike Lähnemann.

Lord Hague and Principal Willis by Plaque

Following this, everyone gathered for a drinks reception in the new Common Room to hear speeches from the Principal, the Chancellor and the SDC Director, Carl Bennett. Principal Willis welcomed everyone to this milestone event in the NSE project and ended with many heartfelt thanks to our Governing Body Fellows, staff, project partners and Aularians who have so generously supported the development. The Principal concluded: “…the most important thing, for which we should all be thankful is that this whole project has, and continues to work, like a large ecosystem, where all parts work interchangeably, and as a result, the Hall flourishes.

Due for completion in April 2026, the NSE project includes 127 ensuite study bedrooms and spacious communal facilities, comprising of three new buildings constructed to Passivhaus standards and a refurbishment of 17 Norham Gardens. The design prioritises sustainably sourced materials and low-embodied carbon, with a prefabricated cross-laminated timber frame forming the superstructure.

This transformative project marks a major step towards supporting Hall students from lower-income backgrounds by enabling all our undergraduates to live in College accommodation for the duration of their course. With a strong focus on inclusion and sustainability, it reflects a shared commitment to a more equal and environmentally responsible future. NSE will welcome its first cohort of students in Autumn 2026.

Aularians and friends of the Hall are welcome to find out more about the NSE project by watching our Topping Out ceremony video and viewing our progress update page.