News and Updates
We regret to inform that due to coronavirus (COVID-19) Magdalene College is closed to all visitors and non-resident Members.
The New Library’s building contractor, Cocksedge, decided to close all of its working sites on 25 March, 2020, following the government’s decision to lockdown much of the UK in response to the pandemic. Since then the contractor has been reviewing the situation regularly and taking advice from recognised construction industry bodies. Revised site operating procedures have been carefully developed by the contractor specifically for the New Library site to ensure government guidance concerning social distancing and site safety can be achieved.
The contractor re-commenced works on site on 11 May 2020. The Contractor has briefed the College on its revised procedures and on its intentions concerning the site-re-opening, noting the site is self-contained and away from the College, with controlled access. The Contractor will continue to liaise closely with the College in the lead up to re-opening the site, and thereafter, once the site is operational. A regular review process will be in place.
Updates on the library build from Cocksedge Building Contractors.
October 2020
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Fitting Tea Points and Kitchen
- Fitting Reception and Office Joinery
- Archive Work Room Joinery
- Remaining External Windows and Doors
- Stair Balustrading
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Bookshelf Lighting
- Gallery External Doors
- Haul Road Removal
- Window Reveals Gound
- Loose furniture Install
- York Stone Paving
- Final Decorations
- M&E Commissioning
- Snagging
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Wall Panelling
- Woodland Path
- Oak Flooring
- Ceiling Panelling
- IPS Panels
- Chiller House Roof
- Plastering
- Gallery Floor Tiling
- Sanitaryware
Past News and Updates
October 2020
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Gallery Plastering
- Gallery Floor Tiling
- IPS Panels
- Chiller House Roof
- Fitting Sanitaryware
- York Stone Paving
- Bookshelf Lighting
- Decorations
- Haul Road Removed
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Wall Panelling
- Woodland Path
- Oak Flooring to Second Floor
- Window Reveals
- Ceiling Panelling
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Gallery Glulam Ceiling
- Floor and Wall Tiling Bathrooms
- Scaffold Removal East and South Side of the Building
- Ceiling Lights to First Floor
- Chiller Plant Positioned
- Oak Flooring to First Floor
September 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Oak flooring to first floor
- Gallery ceiling glulam beams
- Wall panelling
- Veneered ceilings
- Top scaffold lift to be taken down
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Floor & wall tiling
- Furniture install to second floor
- Internal glazed screens
- Internal Oak linings & door frames
- External works including drainage
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Underfloor heating to second floor
- Tower crane has been taken down
- Fire suppression second floor
- Acoustic floor to second floor
- All roof pod ceilings
- Chiller house construction
- Roof flashings
August 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Tower crane to come down
- Fire suppression 2nd floor
- Acoustic Floor to 2nd floor
- 5 roof pod ceilings
- Footings to Chiller House
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Internal glazed screens
- Internal Oak linings and Door frames
- External works including drainage
- Roof flashings
- Timber ceiling framework
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Furniture Install to 2nd floor
- Underfloor heating to 2nd floor
- Floor and Wall Tiling
July 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- First-floor subfloor
- Second-floor windows installed
- Joist work to the second floor
- First fix wiring to the second floor
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Roof pod ceilings
- Fire suppression 2nd floor
- Acoustic Floor to 2nd floor
- Book Shelf delivery & installation
- Fire treatment to internal timber
- First floor Windows
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Internal glazed screens
- Tower crane to come down
- Internal Oak linings
- Tiling to WC’s
June 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Air lights to roof
- Zinc works to roof and boiler room
- Archive store room shelving
- Archive store room fire door
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Glazing to roof pods
- Second floor first fix wiring install
- Oak soffits to roof pods
- Window install to 1st floor
- Plastering works
- Decorations
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Roof pod ceilings
- Fire suppression 2nd floor
- Acoustic Floor to 2nd floor
May 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Archive door fitted and resin floor installed
- Bauder roof membrane complete
- New gateway opening formed onto Chesterton lane
- First floor first fix wiring complete
- Plywood sub-floor complete
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Second floor first fix wiring install
- Air lights to roof pods
- Oak soffits to roof pods
- Window install
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Roof pod ceilings
- Fire suppression 2nd floor
- Plant room roof
February 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Flat roofing works
- Roof drainage
- Plant room A first fix
- Zinc roofing works
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Plinths for book cases
- Chimney cowls
- Lighting conductor tapes roof level
- Temporary heating
- First fix partitions
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Roof pod windows
- Plaster board partitions
- Acoustic flooring
January 2020
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- All of the roof pods have been installed.
- Screed on the ground floor has been completed.
- Drainage to Master’s Garden.
- Soak away to Master’s Garden.
- Underfloor Heating.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Plinths for book cases.
- Chimney cowls.
- Lightning conductor tapes roof level.
- Temporary heating.
- Plant room install.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Flat roofing works.
- Roof drainage.
- Plant room A first fix.
- Zinc roofing works.
December 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Temporary site lighting has been installed.
- Completed brickwork to roof level.
- Ring beams to chimneys have been installed.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Roof pods, CLT and Glulam have started to be installed.
- Brickwork for the chimneys has begun.
- Mechanical first fixing to archive.
- Vapour control layer to roof pods.
- Scaffold adaptations for roof pods works.
- First floor electric basket install.
- Wiring to the first floor and ground floor.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Flat roof membranes and chimney waterproofing to be started.
- Lightening protection tapes to roof area.
- Insulation and screed to ground floor.
- Underfloor heating ground floor.
- Door thresholds to be installed.
November 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Ring beam for chimneys made up ready to be installed.
- Hashtag lintels have been fitted.
- Second floor internal brickwork has been completed.
- Second floor CLT and Glulam installed.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- External brickwork to second floor.
- Steel installation.
- Lift built to roof over-run height.
- Temporary site lighting has been installed.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Roof pods, CLT and Glulam to be installed.
- Mechanical first fixing to ground floor and archive.
- Roof membranes and chimney waterproofing to be started.
- Lightening protection tapes to roof area.
October 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Plant room heating has been switched on.
- CLT and Glulam have been installed for second floor.
- Duct work to lower gallery space.
- Electrical install to lower gallery space.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Second-floor brickwork has commenced.
- Waterproofing of second floor CLT has begun.
- Ground floor electrical install.
- First floor window subframes have started to be installed.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Windposts to external structure.
- Second floor chimney feature lintels.
- Raise rainwater pipes to next level.
- Commissioning of heating controls.
September 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Cladding to boiler house has been completed.
- Boiler house plumbing installation.
- Brickwork to second floor.
- Pre-cast concrete stairs to second floor.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- First floor brickwork.
- Electrical installations to the new library.
- Install new gas meter.
- Brickwork continuing up to roof.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Commissioning of plantroom.
- Dry riser and internal rainwater pipes.
- CLT second floor.
- Mechanical first fix.
August 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- Demolition of the boiler house has completed.
- Setting out of first-floor brickwork has been completed.
- CLT for the first floor.
- Gas alteration works for new boiler house.
- Structure to boiler house.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Boiler house plumbing install.
- First-floor brickwork.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Plumbing installations to new library.
- Electrical installations to the new library.
- Install new gas meter.
- Cladding to boiler house.
July 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on-site include:
- External brickwork to ground floor has been completed.
- Rainwater pipes have been installed to second-floor level.
- First floor in situ concrete slab has been completed.
- Stairs to ground floor have been put into place.
- Slab pour.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on-site during this period consist of:
- Demolition of the boiler house has commenced.
- Setting out of first-floor brickwork has begun.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Boiler house construction.
- CLT for the first floor is due to commence.
- Gas alteration works for new boiler house.
June 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- Service trench from north end of library to Chesterton lane boundary.
- Installation of scaffolding for internal work has been completed to first floor.
- Bricklayers have completed the internal brickwork predominantly up to first floor height.
- Wind posts from the first to second floor have now been installed ready for the CLT and Glulam install.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- External brickwork to ground floor has commenced and progressed well with small areas to be completed.
- Rainwater pipes being installed to second floor level.
- The reinforcement has been made up and is being placed in position ready for the in situ concrete slab to commence.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Final bricks to be delivered (excluding bricks to the chimneys).
- Further material deliveries to be made to allow commencement and continuation of activities.
- First floor in situ concrete slab is due to commence.
May 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- Reinforced concrete walls to rear elevation complete.
- Attenuation tank on grid line six is complete. All attenuation works are now complete.
- The insulated heating pipe to the new boiler house through the Masters garden has been installed.
- Hollow core planks have been installed to the archive store and fire stopped allowing progression of the brickwork walls.
- Steels to grid lines G2 and J4 have been installed.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Service trench from north end of library to Chesterton lane boundary.
- Installation of scaffolding for internal work has progressed to first floor.
- Bricklayers have progressed the internal brickwork predominantly up to first floor height.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Further brick and material deliveries to be made to allow commencement and continuation of brickwork activities.
- In situ concrete slab is due to commence.
April 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- Extended the plantroom slab in Master’s Garden.
- Install ducts to new plant room base in Master’s Garden.
- New water main laid up to Chesterton Lane.
- Ducts for data and electric have been laid up to Chesterton Lane.
- All non-visual bricks have been delivered and are on site.
- Completion of laying of insulated heating pipe to the new boiler house through the Master's Garden.
- Attenuation tank on grid line six has been completed.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Bricklayers have commenced the internal brickwork.
- New footpath to Master’s Garden.
- Dry riser install to Chesterton Lane.
- Scaffolding around internal work has begun.
- Building of the archive walls.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Service trench from north end of library to Chesterton Lane boundary.
- Further brick and material deliveries to be made to allow commencement and continuation of works activities.
- Steels to gridlines G2 and J4 to be installed.
- Installation of hollow core concrete slabs to archive room.
- Stair b install.
March 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- Remainder of foul water drainage has been completed.
- Formwork to the upper slab has been completed along with the upper slab.
- Waterproofing to reinforced concrete walls to the lower ground floor service void.
- All of the external brickwork has been completed up to the damp proof course.
- Services linking plant room A & B are now complete.
- Grid line one has been backfilled against the new retaining wall.
- Brick chamber built for data services.
- All steels to external chimneys up to first floor have been installed.
- Laying of insulated heating pipe up to Masters garden within the site area.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Commence reinforced concrete walls to rear elevation.
- Bricklayers have commenced the internal brickwork.
- Attenuation tank on grid line six has commenced.
- Completion of laying of insulated heating pipe to the new boiler house through the Masters garden.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Service trench from north end of library to Chesterton Lane boundary.
- Installation of scaffolding for internal work.
- Building of the archive walls.
- Further brick and material deliveries to be made to allow commencement and continuation of brickwork activities.
- Steels to gridlines G2 and J4 to be installed.
February 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- The foul water chamber has been completed and backfilled.
- The upper slab has had the steel reinforcement installed ready for the concrete slab to be poured.
- 8 steels installed within the chimneys ground to the first floor which will continue to the roof of the library.
- Waterproofing to the upper slab has been completed.
- Insulation and waterproofing to the upper floor ring beams.
- Completion of steel reinforcement to the ring beams.
- The walls to the lower ground floor service void have been poured.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Remainder of foul water drainage which will be completed in this period.
- Formwork to the upper slab which will be complete prior to the concrete slab pour.
- Soak away works have commenced.
- Waterproofing to reinforced concrete walls to the lower ground floor service void.
- Continued regular brick deliveries.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Bricklayers to commence, initially they will build the sample wall then move onto the substructure brickwork.
- Concrete pour to upper slab.
- Remaining steels to east elevation chimneys to be installed.
- Further brick and material deliveries to be made to allow commencement and continuation of brickwork activities.
- Commence reinforced concrete walls to rear elevation.
January 2019
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- The concrete has been poured for the second half of the ring beam and the lower section of the slab.
- The foul drainage has now been completed, including the installation of the pumping chamber.
- Waterproofing to the sides of the ground beams and lower ground slab has been completed.
- The insulation to the lower ground slab has been installed.
- The rainwater drainage has been put in from the site compound to the culvert and then to the river.
- The tower crane has been erected and is now in use.
- The reinforced concrete walls which extend around the service voids are complete.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Insulation and waterproofing to the upper floor ring beams.
- Continued regular brick deliveries, 45K bricks now on site.
- Continuing with the fixing of the steel reinforcement for the floor slabs and beams.
- Proceeding with the pouring of the walls to the lower ground floor service void.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Further waterproofing to the reinforced concrete walls.
- Soakaway/attenuation works to begin.
- Construction of the upper ground floor slabs.
- Begin substructure blockwork.
- Install ground to first-floor structural steel.
December 2018
Completed Activities
The works that have been completed on site include:
- Piling and pile cropping
- Installation of site accommodation.
- First half of lower ring beam concreted and waterproofing applied.
- Second half of lower ring beam shuttered, waterproofed, steelwork done and installed.
- Foul drainage installed
- All of the piles have been tested and passed.
- Archaeology visits complete for the footprints of the library.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Concrete second half of ring beam and lower section of the slab.
- Foul drainage including pumping chamber.
- All waterproofing to the sides of the ground beams and lower ground slab.
- Insulation to the lower ground slab.
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Surface water drainage.
- Shuttering for lower section slab.
- First brick delivery due on the 11 December 2018.
- Tower crane on site 12 January 2019.
- Pour ground slabs.
November 2018
Completed Activities
Construction on site for the New Library at Magdalene has started and so far the works that have been completed include:
- Getting the site ready.
- Installation of piling mat.
- Erect hoarding and fencing.
- Temporary removal of section of garden wall.
- Temporary haul road and working platforms.
Commenced Activities
The activities that have commenced on site during this period consist of:
- Piling commenced on the 24th October 2018 and finished ahead of schedule in early November 2018.
- Installation of site accommodation for the construction team
Works due to Commence
There are a number of activities that are due to commence over the next period including:
- Surface water drainage.
- Shuttering for lower section slab.
- First brick delivery due on the 11 December 2018.
- Tower crane on site 12 January 2019.
- Pour ground slabs.
October 2018
- The project commenced on site on 8 October 2018.
- The site hoarding in the Fellows’ Garden has been erected and will be painted green.
- Riverside pathway reopened to College Members (19 October).
- A section of the old wall at the boundary of the Master’s Garden has been removed as the site is prepared for the piling mat.
- Timber hoarding to the Master’s Garden has been erected.
- The piling rig will arrive on site on 22 October.
- Cocksedge wants to implement the dewatering stage of the programme early. The permanent drainage for the rainwater from the new building needs to be partially created to permit extra storage for the dewatering. There needs to be trenching at the rear of the Pepys Building and past the Gardener’s Cottage to join the drain at the corner of the Bright’s Building. Provisionally planned for early December.