Exactly 16 months after holding a ground-breaking ceremony for the new building, on 26th January we celebrated reaching the building’s highest point in a “Topping Out” ceremony. More than one hundred guests, from local Oxford councillors and community leaders, to Laing O’Rourke construction workers and Herzog & de Meuron architects involved with the projects, gathered on top of the terrace, on the fourth floor of the building to celebrate the achievement. Blavatnik School of Government staff, faculty, and alumni also attended the event.

We were delighted to welcome Len Blavatnik – whose generous gift enabled the creation of the School – and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Andrew Hamilton. They were joined by our Dean Ngaire Woods, Ray O’Rourke (chairman of construction company Laing O’Rourke) and Ascan Mergenthaler (Senior Partner at Herzog & de Meuron) in pouring the final concrete to celebrate such an important milestone in every construction project.

As Len Blavatnik said, the Blavatnik School of Government started its journey not so long ago, and yet it has already made incredible progress: three classes of outstanding students, and a wonderful 21st-century building where people will come together to analyse and find solutions to modern government challenges.

The new building will also be a place that local people can enjoy and interact with. Ngaire said: “We have big ambitions for this building, and not just for our students. We hope the Blavatnik School of Government will become a vibrant and vital part of the local community and contributor to the City of Oxford’s cultural and intellectual life, through our public events and activities. We already have plans to host an exhibition of artwork by local school children who participated in our recent competition."

The 'topping out' ceremony was also an opportunity to bring all the project teams together and thank everyone involved - in particular the construction team who have done an amazing job so far.

Some facts and figures:

• Currently in week 71 of 101-week construction project (week beginning 26 January)
• 275,000 hours worked (to the end of December) • 583 workers on the project (to the end of December); 1,500 workers by the end of the project
• Over 100 people per day are currently on the site, rising to 200 when the internal fit-out is at its peak
• Gross internal area is 8,026 square metres
• Practical completion date is 31st August 2015, with new students arriving in September

Designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron and under construction by Laing O’Rourke, the building provides Europe’s first and currently only purpose-built, dedicated facility for research and education in improving government globally.

Natural light and ventilation as well as range of innovations such as solar panels on the rooftop and motion sensor light fittings give the building excellent environmental credentials.

Once open the building is expected to host up to 550 people at any one time, including students, staff, faculty and visitors. It will have two lecture theatres seating 80 and 120 people, as well as flexible seminar space that can host up to 200 people for special events. 

(Pictured above, from left: Ray O’Rourke (Laing O’Rourke chairman), Ngaire Woods, Len Blavatnik, Professor Andrew Hamilton (Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford), Ascan Mergenthaler (Senior Partner at Herzog & de Meuron). Photo by John Cairns)

See a gallery of photos from the event

Find out more about the Blavatnik School of Government's new building