Radcliffe Observatory Campaign
Preserving the Past | Inspiring the Future
In a city renowned for its architectural grandeur, the Radcliffe Observatory stands apart – not only for its extraordinary international significance in the history of science, but also because it remains one of Oxford’s best-kept secrets.
This iconic building requires urgent conservation and renewal. Green Templeton secured funds from the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation for Phase 1 of the college’s plans for the Radcliffe Observatory . The gift will reenergise the Radcliffe Observatory as a focal point of the college and the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter – with a shared landscape and a new main entrance.
The latest updates from the project team
The college is also actively pursuing Phase 2, a project to fund the conservation and decarbonisation of the building. The works needed are substantial and vital. They include:
- Specialist conservation of the roof, doors, windows and interior staircases
- Major environmental upgrades, including a more efficient and sustainable heating system
- Further accessibility improvements, such as acoustic enhancements to enable inclusive use of the Dining Hall
Green Templeton is committed to safeguarding the Observatory – not as a museum piece, but as a living, accessible space embedded in the life of the college and the wider community. These upgrades will ensure the Observatory remains a cherished part of Oxford’s heritage and a vital asset within the College’s long-term estate strategy.
A fundraising campaign is now underway to secure the support needed to bring this vision to life.
To learn more about the project and how you can get involved, please contact Head of Development Maren Florenz.
DONATE NOWOn the project
Agata Olszewska, Architect and Project Lead, Purcell
‘Urgent conservation of the uniquely significant Radcliffe Observatory is essential to ensure it remains a proud beacon across Oxford for generations to come.
‘Originally built as a hub of scientific and technological innovation, and now a centrepiece of the university’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Purcell’s expert team of Architects and Heritage Consultants are pioneering solutions in reducing the carbon emissions in this grade I listed building and enhancing access to it for the wider community.’
Sir Michael Dixon, Principal, Green Templeton College
‘This project is a reflection of what higher education can be at its best: rooted in place, outward-looking, and open to all. It has my full support, the full commitment of the College, and the potential to inspire thousands.’
Professor Mike Lockwood, President, Royal Astronomical Society
‘The Radcliffe Observatory played a foundational role in precision astronomy… supporting navigation systems, early space science, and the development of general scientific infrastructure.’
Professor Liz Bentley, Chief Executive, Royal Meteorological Society
‘The Radcliffe Meteorological Station holds the longest-running continuous record of temperature and rainfall at a single site in the United Kingdom… a unique opportunity to explore climate change through a long-term lens.’
Hayley Beer-Gamage, Chief Executive, Experience Oxfordshire
‘Few sites hold the untapped potential of the Radcliffe Observatory… to reposition it as a key cultural destination in Oxford.’
Colin Bundy, founding Principal, Green Templeton College
‘It is in so many ways a building of the Enlightenment – built when it was, as a place of science, and its architecture so elegant, harmonious and optimistic.’
Oxford University Heritage Network
‘This is a project with academic, cultural and public value… the Observatory could become a powerful hub for experimental and inclusive heritage practice.’
