Project Information
- Project – Dokett Building, Queen’s College, University of Cambridge
- Location – Cambridge
- Client – University of Cambridge
- Contractor – GHB Roofing Ltd
- Architect – BB+C Architects Limited
- Product – Keymer Traditional Elizabethan and Antique roof tiles
The Dokett Building located in Cambridge, UK is a site named after the first President of Queens’ College, Andrew Dokett. This site is drenched in academic history and is a prominent element of the college’s architecture. This structure became the subject of a historic renovation in the year 2014 with a re-roofing using Wienerberger’s Keymer Traditional Elizabethan and Antique roof tiles.
Why Did Dokett Building Need Restoration?
Originally constructed in the year 1911, the Dokett building has served the world-renowned university for 100 plus years, becoming an inspiration of local history. But, in the year 2014, weathering started to take a huge toll on this age-old structure, instigating the need for a major renovation. In addition to this, one of the main reasons the roof needed replacement was that it hadn’t been updated in decades. The project demanded the entire roof be stripped and recovered.
The Challenge
This magnificent building is a prominent element of the college’s architecture and is visible even from the opposite side of the campus. The Dokett Building features 34 study bedrooms, 12 kitchens, and a fellow’s room; most significantly it provides accommodation for the college’s students.
The roofing contractors were tasked with stripping and re-covering the entire 100-year-old roof. The accommodation needed to be considerably modernized, hence, new dormers were created to allow for ventilation and new bathrooms.
Keymer Roof Tiles A Natural Choice
With the historical reputation of the site at the heart of the University of Cambridge, clay roof tiles, with their unique heritage aesthetic, were the natural choice for replacing the roof. The building’s conservation officers were delighted to choose Keymer Roof Tiles for its unique heritage aesthetic offerings.
The roofing solution for this structure needed has a similar aesthetic to an adjacent building, which had been renovated as part of an earlier restoration. By using an equal mix of clay roof tiles in traditional shades, the roof developers prospered in creating a new roof that was an unbelievably close match with the surrounding buildings. Not only this but with the superior heat retention capabilities of natural alluvial clay, the thermal efficiency of the building was also improved.
Due to the fantastic finished result on the Dokett Building project, three years later Keymer tiles were selected for The Old Courtyard restoration at Queens’ College.
Originally Published : Architectum
Read: Different Types Of Roofing Materials You Should Be Knowing
Authored by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India
For an expert advice, drop a word at our email id gosmartbricks@gmail.com
Additional resource: To know more about Koramic clay roof tiles. See this short video-
