St Anne’s is the home of choice for the brightest and most ambitious students, including those from underrepresented groups.
St Anne’s is one of Oxford’s largest colleges, with over 800 students. Our Fellows’ world leading research ranges across the arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and physical, life and medical sciences.
Our diverse, inclusive community extends around the globe through our alumnae, who build on their experiences here to change the world for the better.
Situated within 5 acres of tranquil leafy grounds, St Anne’s enjoys a unique atmosphere in which to hold any conference, dinner or special event.
The transformation of St Anne’s College’s historic Bevington Road student houses has been recognised with an Oxfordshire Preservation Trust (OPT) Award, receiving a plaque in the Adaptive Re-use category at the 2026 awards.
The award celebrates the College’s £14.6 million transformation of the ten Victorian houses, affectionately known as “the Bevs”, which reopened earlier this year following the most ambitious capital project in St Anne’s history.
Presented at the OPT Awards Ceremony on 4 November, the plaque recognises projects that successfully preserve and adapt historic buildings for contemporary use. In announcing this year’s winners, the OPT highlighted the growing importance of refurbishment and adaptive reuse as sustainable alternatives to demolition, praising projects that demonstrate strong approaches to conservation, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Originally built between 1867 and 1869, the Bevington Road houses have been part of St Anne’s since the 1950s and have provided a home for generations of students. The recent project carefully preserved the character of the buildings while enhancing the accommodation for current and future students.
Designed by award-winning architects Assemble, the redevelopment increased the number of student rooms and significantly improved the sustainability and accessibility of the houses. The works have reduced operational energy demand by around 80%, supporting the College’s wider environmental ambitions while helping to secure the long-term future of the historic buildings.
John Banbrook, Domestic Bursar at St Anne’s College, said:
“The Bevington Road houses occupy a special place in the life of St Anne’s, and we are delighted that their transformation has been recognised by the Oxfordshire Preservation Trust. This project demonstrates what can be achieved through thoughtful refurbishment: preserving historic buildings, reducing carbon emissions and providing outstanding accommodation for our students.
“We are grateful to everyone who contributed to making the vision a reality, and especially pleased to see these much-loved houses celebrated as an example of successful adaptive reuse.”
Speaking about this year’s judging, Alice Purkiss, Chair of the OPT Awards, said:
“It’s been another brilliant year for the OPT Awards, and my fellow judges and I enjoyed exploring the diverse range of projects entered across the city this summer. While it’s always a privilege to visit new places and see the finest design and conservation practice in action, meeting the people behind the entries is a real highlight of the judging process. This year’s Awards beautifully exemplify the importance of people in making places matter.”
The OPT Award recognises the exceptional care and ambition that shaped the Bevington Road project. Working within the constraints of a conservation area, the redevelopment balanced the preservation of historic buildings with the creation of modern, sustainable student accommodation, demonstrating what can be achieved through thoughtful design, collaboration and long-term investment.