Exeter College Dining Hall wins Oxford Preservation Trust Building Conservation Award
Exeter College’s Dining Hall has won an Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) Award for Building Conservation, receiving the Trust’s highest level of award, a Building Conservation Plaque. The award recognises the sensitive transformation of the Hall’s lighting, enhancing the historic space while preserving its distinctive architectural character.
The project introduced a new architectural lighting scheme designed to improve both the functionality and atmosphere of the Dining Hall, while having minimal impact on its historic fabric. The carefully considered lighting highlights the Hall’s striking architectural features, enhancing one of the College’s most important and much-loved spaces while respecting its rich heritage.
Watch Exeter College Dining Hall’s award-winning architectural lighting scheme in this video, courtesy of dpa lighting consultants.
The project team brought together dpa lighting consultants as Lighting Design Consultants, Jessop and Cook Architects as Architect, and Darke and Taylor as Electrical Contractor.
Since 1927, the Oxford Preservation Trust has been dedicated to preserving Oxford’s history and working towards a positive future. Its annual awards recognise outstanding projects that contribute to the conservation and enhancement of Oxford and its surroundings.
This is Exeter College’s third OPT plaque in five years. In 2024, the transformed Jackson Library received a Building Conservation Plaque, while the refurbished Porters’ Lodge and College entrance received a Small Project Plaque in 2022, recognising improvements to accessibility and energy efficiency alongside the preservation of its historic character.