Exeter College Library in Oxford, UK, has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment by nex architecture. This neo-gothic library, designed by George Gilbert Scott in 1857, sits in a sensitive historic setting next to the Bodleian Library’s Convocation House. The project aimed to create additional study space, improve accessibility and environmental performance, and conserve the building’s fabric and historic features.

About Exeter College Library
In 2025, Exeter College in Oxford, United Kingdom, embarked on a comprehensive refurbishment project that seamlessly blended sensitive restoration with thoughtful contemporary interventions. Nestled within the city’s rich architectural tapestry, the neo-gothic Exeter College Library, designed by George Gilbert Scott in 1857, underwent a meticulous transformation. Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future
The library, a Grade II listed building, stood adjacent to the 17th-century Convocation House, a Grade I listed historic court room of the Bodleian Library. Recognizing the project’s sensitivity, the design team from nex architecture sought to unlock the tight spaces, improve accessibility, and enhance the building’s environmental performance ? all while preserving its historic charm.
A Masterful Balancing Act
The key to the project’s success was a discreet single-story structure, tucked between the library and the Convocation House. This strategic intervention created a new entra...