On the weekend of September 13 and 14, Oxford Brookes University will be welcoming people into the John Henry Brookes Building as part of the Oxford Preservation Trust’s Open Doors weekend. We’re inviting local neighbours, Oxfordshire residents and visitors to come and explore our new multi-award-winning building. As Oxford Brookes’ Space to Think Project Manager it marks an exciting time for me, and I’m really looking forward to welcoming the people of Oxford onto our campus.

At Brookes our links to the local community are really important to us, and being a part of the Open Doors weekend is a fantastic opportunity for us to show people just some of what happens here, the exciting 150th anniversary celebrations coming up next year, as well as some of the amazing research and work going on across the university.

For visitors who haven’t been to the John Henry Brookes Building before, it is a great opportunity to come and take a look at the new forum with a suspended lecture theatre, a new modern library and some of the special design features which have captured the attention of renowned architects.

We’re proud to have been recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as one of the top 15 buildings in the country making the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture over the past year while also receiving RIBA South Regional, Sustainability and National awards.

Additionally, the surrounding green spaces at our Headington campus have been judged to be welcoming, safe and sustainably managed, and along with our Wheatley and Harcourt Hill campuses, gained Green Flag Awards for being some of the best green spaces in the country.

These accolades not only reflect the hard work that has gone into creating our new flagship building but help show the positive impact its learning spaces are already having on the experience of our students.

Oxford Mail:

The new John Henry Brookes building

For Oxford Open Doors, we’re lining up some fun interactive activities. On Saturday the 13th we are inviting families with children to create some tasty masterpieces, build cities of the future and magnify the world around them between 11am and 3pm. Between 12pm and 1pm, we’re delighted to have local author, Bryan Brown, give a taste of his upcoming biography on John Henry Brookes, the outstanding educationalist and founding spirit of the university.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the new building on one of the hourly guided tours or step into 1865 for a glimpse at our founding institution, the Oxford School of Art. And for those who are looking to relax, all of the building’s excellent new cafés and restaurants will be open so you can grab a coffee, a bite to eat or one of the special kid’s lunches!

Visitors will also be able to have a look at the inspiring exhibitions that we are hosting as part of another Oxford festival, Photography Oxford, which will be available for a sneak peek on Saturday 13th and formally opening on Sunday September 14 until October 5.

Oxford Mail:

Inside the building

Located in and around the Abercrombie and John Henry Brookes buildings are the three exhibitions being hosted as part of the festival, ‘On Solid Ground’ from Panos Pictures, ‘Home’ a project led by our own students, and the prestigious ‘World Press Photo 2014’.

We are really excited to welcome Oxford through our doors in September, and I’m looking forward to showing everyone around the ‘simply brilliant’ John Henry Brookes Building!

For more details about what’s happening around Oxford and at Oxford Brookes for Open Doors, visit oxfordopendoors.org.uk

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