Cambridge Architecture Designs: Buildings News
Contemporary architecture developments in Southeast England. UK modern building designs
post updated 10 October 2026
Cambridge Architecture Designs : links
We choose key examples of Cambridge Buildings. We cover completed buildings, new building designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across Cambridgeshire. Our focus is on contemporary buildings in Great Brtiain.
Cambridge Building News in 2026, chronological:
24 September 2026
Eddington Cambridge mixed-use neighbourhood
Landscape Design: Grant Associates
image : HawkinsBrown
10 September 2026
Northstowe Town Hub Building
Architecture Design: AtkinsRéalis
image courtesy of architects practice
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Cambridge Architecture Walking Tours
Cambridge Architecture Walking Tours – launched by e-architect
Cambridge Architecture Introduction
Cambridge is famous for its old and distinguished and prestigious University colleges. Like its twin city Oxford it has much brilliant historic and contemporary architecture. Cambridge is set on the River Cam and many of the colleges back onto gardens along the river, called The Backs, giving Cambridge a lot of its charm. Each college competes against the other to attain better and more beautiful architecture. Famous architects with buildings here include Norman Foster, Leslie Martin and Ted Cullinan.
We choose key examples of Cambridge Architecture. Buildings are mostly located in the colleges. We aim to include Cambridge buildings / projects that are either of top quality or interesting, or ideally both.
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Latest Cambridge Building Designs
4 September 2025
The Discovery Centre, DISC – Cambridge Biomedical Campus for AstraZeneca
Design: Herzog & de Meuron / BDP
photo © Hufton+Crow
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1 October 2024
Ceramic Studio
Design: OKOPOD
photo : Timothy Soar
10 July 2024
Young’s Court at Emmanuel College Cambridge
Design: Stanton Williams
photo © Jack Hobhouse
9 February 2024
Grafton Centre Building Redevelopment
Design: Corstorphine & Wright
images courtesy of architects practice
Cambridge City Council granted planning approval for the ambitious project this week, marking a crucial step forward in the transformation of this central shopping location which has been in decline over recent years.
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18 August 2022
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Robinson Way
Design: NBBJ
image : NBBJ / Brick Visual
14 June 2022
West Hub University of Cambridge Building, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge CB3 0US
Design: Jestico + Whiles Architects
photo : Paul Raftery
8 June 2022
Northstowe Heritage Centre Building Cambridgeshire
Design: Proctor & Matthews Architects
image courtesy of architects practice
29 May 2022
Magdalene College Library University of Cambridge
Design: Niall McLaughlin Architects
photo : Nick Kane
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28 Nov 2011
Cambridge Mosque
Design: Marks Barfield Architects
The proposed mosque building will allow the downsizing of the existing overcrowded facility, housed in a former chapel on Mawson Road, which is no longer physically capable of accommodating Cambridge’s growing Muslim community. Visitors will be able to experience a gradual transition, through a garden, a covered portico, and an atrium, into the main prayer hall which is oriented towards Mecca. The building will be naturally lit and create an overall impression of calm, stillness, stability, quiet and focus.
4 May 2011
Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge Botanic Garden
Design: Stanton Williams
This building, a major new plant science research centre in Cambridge by architects Stanton Williams, has won the coveted RIBA Stirling Prize 2012 for the best building of the year. The RIBA Stirling Prize is the UK’s most prestigious architecture prize, awarded to the architects of the best new European building built or designed in the UK.
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Ten Key Cambridge Buildings
Cambridge Architecture Designs, chronological:
1. Kings College Chapel
Dates built: 1446-1515
Design: various architects / masons
2. Queens’ College – Old Court & Cloister Court
Dates built: 1448-1540
Design: various architects
3. Emmanuel College – Chapel Building
Date built: 1674
Design: Christopher Wren Architect
4. Downing College – Wilkins buildings
Date built: 1820
Design: William Wilkins, Architect
5. Fitzwilliam Museum Buildings
Date built: 1841
Design: George Basevi Architect
6. St John’s College – Cripps Building
Date built: 1967
Design: Powell & Moya Architects
7. Faculty of History
Date built: 1968
Design: James Stirling Architect
8. Queens’ College – Cripps Court
Date built: 1980
Design: Powell & Moya Architects
9. Robinson College Buildings
Date built: 1980
Design: Gillespie Kidd & Coia
10. Centre for Mathematical Sciences
Date built: 2003
Design: Edward Cullinan Architects
Other important buildings include the first Cambridge college, Peterhouse, the Senate House and Trinity College’s Great Court
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Cambridge Architecture
Key Cambridge Architecture Projects, alphabetical:
Accordia Housing, Brooklands Avenue, south side of city centre
Design: various Architects
Accordia Housing
Addenbrooke’s Hospital Masterplan
Design: Allies and Morrison / Devereux Architects
Addenbrooke’s Hospital Masterplan
Arts Faculties Campus, University of Cambridge – Sidgwick Site
Dates built: 1959-61
Design: Casson, Conder & Partners
picture © Adrian Welch
Floating O-plan building above podium, homage to Le Corbusier. The latter is paved with a traditional grass court within, thus Modernist architecture fuses with traditional Cambridge college design. The scale of the blocks and the columns is massive, detailing clean and materials still working many years on.
Cambridge Mosque
Design: Marks Barfield Architects
Cambridge University Dept of Architecture
Design: Mole Architects
Cambridge School of Architecture
Cambridge University Dept of Architecture – located just Northwest of the Accordia Housing
Design: Mole Architects
Cambridge School of Architecture
Cavendish Ave. house, south Cambridge
Design: Mole Architects
Cavendish Avenue house
Christ’s College Buildings
Design: various architects, including Sir Denys Lasdun
Christ’s College South Court
Churchill College – original buildings
Design: Richard Sheppard, Robson & Partners
Churchill College Storey’s Way
Churchill College Postgraduate Accommodation, off Storey’s Way
Design: Cottrell & Vermeulen
picture © AW
Clare College – Memorial Court buildings
Giles Gilbert Scott; –
Clare College Buildings off Queens’ Road
Clare College New Court Building
van Heyningen and Haward Architects
Clare College New Court
Clare Hall – Brian Pippard Building
NRAP
Brian Pippard Building
Clare Hall – West Court
NRAP
Clare Hall West Court
Covent Garden Houses
NRAP
Covent Garden Houses
Darwin College Building, off Silver Street
Dixon Jones Architects
Darwin College Building Extension
Downing College buildings
Design: William Wilkins ; Quinlan Terry architect
Downing College Buildings, Regent Street – an austere and very spacious layout compared to the older colleges closer into the historic city centre. The Neoclassical style has been kept going through the 20th Century, with the Quinlan Terry designs proving controversial when built. I recall the Architectural Review carrying some highly critical articles on these, and I had the fortune to visit these buildings many times due to Downing being my father and brother’s college.
Emmanuel College Chapel, St Andrew’s St
Design: Christopher Wren Architect
Emmanuel College Buildings – this is such a delightful composition, one of my favourites in the city – Ed. Adrian Welch
Faculty of Divinity Building, Sidgwick Site
Design: Edward Cullinan Architects
Faculty of Divinity Building
Faculty of Education Building, Hills Road
Architects: Building Design Partnership
Faculty of Education Cambridge Building
Faculty of English Building
Design: Allies & Morrison Architects
Cambridge University building Sidgwick Site
Faculty of History, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Site
James Stirling Architect
History Faculty Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College, Huntingdon Road
Sir Denys Lasdun Architect
Fitzwilliam College
Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street
George Basevi
Fitzwilliam Museum Building
Homerton College Building Extension
RMJM Cambridge
Cambridge College architecture
Institute of Criminology Building
Allies & Morrison
Institute of Criminology Building Cambridge
Jesus College buildings, Jesus Lane
Design: various including David Roberts; Evans & Shalev
Jesus College Cambridge
Judge Institute, Trumpington Street
Design: John Outram / Fitzroy Robinson
The Judge Institute Building is quite a controversial building, in that it doesn’t follow normal contemporary architectural styling. The powerful Postmodern façade style makes quite a contrast with the quite delicate traditional stone buildings around it. The design however was not as controversial as the Quinlan Terry Neoclassical buildings at downing which came in for some quite severe criticism in the UK’s mainstream architectural press.
Junction Nightclub & Theatre, Clifton Road
–
picture © Adrian Welch
The Shed, south Cambridge
Kaetsu Educational & Cultural Centre, Huntingdon Road
Design: Austin-Smith:Lord Architects
photograph : Isabelle Lomholt
Laslett House, Clarkson Road – Modern Cambridge Architecture
Design: Trevord Dannatt Architect
image © AW
Law Library, Sidgwick Campus
Design: Foster + Partners
Law Library Cambridge, 10 West Road.
Mathematical Sciences Centre Maths Campus, West Cambridge
Design: Edward Cullinan Architects
picture © Adrian Welch
Michael Stoker Building, Herschel Road, adjacent to Clare Hall
Design: Ralph Erskine Architect
picture © AW
New Hall College Building, Huntingdon Rd
Design: Chamberlin, Powell & Bon Architects
New Hall College Cambridge
Our Lady and the English Martyrs
Design: Dunn & Hansom
picture © Adrian Welch
Catholic Church, Hills Rd / Lensfield Rd
Quayside, Cambridge, southeast England
Design: NRAP
Quayside Cambridge
Queens’ College Old Court & Cloister Court
Design: various architects
Queens College Cambridge building
Queens’ College – Cripps Court Building, The Backs, off Silver Street
1972-80
Design: Powell & Moya Architects
picture © Adrian Welch
Queens’ College – Mathematical Bridge, River Cam, off Silver Street
Design: W. Etheridge
photograph : Isabelle Lomholt
Robinson College Buildings, Grange Rd
Design: Gillespie Kidd & Coia
Robinson College Buildings
‘Round Church’ – Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Bridge St
approximately 1140
Design: architect unknown
picture © Adrian Welch
St John’s College Buildings, off St John’s Street
Design: Rickman & Hutchison, Architects
St Johns College
St John’s College – Bridge of Sighs
Design: Henry Hutchison Architect
picture © AW
Third Court, The Backs, off St John’s Street
St John’s College, off St John’s Street
Design: Edward Cullinan Architects
image © AW
Edward Cullinan building, Chapel Court.
St John’s College – Cripps Building
Powell & Moya Architects
picture © AJW
The Backs, off Northampton Street.
Sainsbury Laboratory, Botanic Garden
Stanton Williams
Sainsbury Laboratory
Travel Lodge Hotel, Clifton Way
Proctor Matthews, Architects
Travel Lodge Cambridge, off Hills Road.
University Arms Hotel, Parker’s Piece
Feilden & Mawson
picture © Adrian Welch
Modern Building, Regent Street.
9 Wilberforce Road
1937
Dora Cosens
photograph : Isabelle Lomholt
Modern Cambridge Architecture on the west side of this English city.
William Gates Building, off Madingley Road
RMJM Architects
William Gates Building
More Cambridge Architecture online soon
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Cambridge Buildings – No Images
Key Buildings / Projects, E-N, alphabetical:
All Saints Church
Date built: 2006
Barber Casanovas Ruffles Ltd
Bingo Hall, Hobson St
Date built: 1930
–
Art Deco architecture – converted cinema opposite Christ’s College.
Botanic Place – mixed-use development, south Cambridge
2007-
Halpern Architects
Bradwell’s Court, Christ’s Lane / St Andrews St, Cambridge
-2007
Panter Hudspith Architects
Burrell’s Field – Trinity College, Grange Road
1995(97)
MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects
Brilliant collection of sensitive yet creative buildings in honey-coloured stone / brick.
Cambridge Arts Cinema
1997
O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects
Cambridge CB1 Scheme
Richard Rogers Partnership was designing a £725m masterplan for 25-acre Cambridge railway station area – entitled the CB1 Scheme – for the Ashwell Property Group: flats, offices, hotels, public square, bus interchange, county heritage centre and shops. Richard Rogers once taught architecture in Cambridge.
Cambridge Biomedical Campus, south Cambridge
2007-
RMJM
Approved late 2007
Adjacent to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Cambridge School of Music, West Road
–
Leslie Martin with Colen Lumley + Ivor Richards
Cambridge University Centre
1967
HKPA – Howard, Killick, Partridge & Amis, Architects
Concrete panels with rhythmic expression of tie-back bolts, quite brutal but intriguing.
Civic Trust Commendation in 1968.
Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge
1931-34
Giles Gilbert Scott
1 Scroope Terrace Extension
1958
Design: Colin St John Wilson
Centre for Cambridge
1962
Ralph Erskine
Charles Babbage Road Flats, Fawcett Court, Forster Court & Franklin Court
2003-04
MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects
Christ’s College – New Court
1966-70
Denys Lasdun Architect
Stepped concrete building in the hinterland of Christ’s College.
Clare Hall buildings
1968
Ralph Erskine Architects
Colin St John Wilson’s house, Grantchester Rd, south Cambridge
–
Design: Colin St John Wilson
private house
Corn Exchange
1983
Hamiltons Architects
for the City of Cambridge: 5,000 sqm
Cornford House
–
Design: Colin St John Wilson
private house
‘Elmside’, Grange Rd
–
E.S. Prior
Arts & Crafts house
English Heritage Offices, Brooklands Avenue
–
Van Heyningen & Haward, Architects
Sensitive melding of old and new
Faculty of Divinity Building, University of Cambridge – Sidgwick Site
2000
Edward Cullinan Architects
Unlike Ted Cullinan’s St John’s College Library this building feels a bit flimsy. Costing £8m and a winner of a RIBA Award the style is lightweight and softly innovative with plenty of layering from brise soleil and a light palette
Faculty of English Building, University of Cambridge – Sidgwick Site
2004
Allies & Morrison Architects
Faculty of Music, West Rd, Cambridge
1978-84
Leslie Martin with Colen Lumley & Ivor Richards
Fitzwilliam College Chapel
1990
MacCormac Jamieson Architects
Fitzwilliam College buildings
1994; 92
Van Heyningen & Haward
Fitzwilliam College Gatehouse & Auditorium
2004
Allies & Morrison
MacCormac Jamieson Architects and Van Heyningen & Haward have also designed buildings at this College.
Napp Laboratories
Date built: 1983
Design: Arthur Erickson, Architects
Newnham College
Date built: 1983
Design: van Heyningen and Haward Architects
Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Catholic Church, Hills Road / Lensfield Road
Dates built: 1885-90
Dunn & Hansom
Pembroke College – old buildings
Date built: 1665
Christopher Wren
Beautiful asymmetric set of courtyards with subtle level changes complete with New Chapel. Sir Christopher Wren also designed the Chapel at Emmanuel College.
Pembroke College – Foundress Court
1997
Eric Parry Architects
Sophisticated architecture with close relationship to Allies & Morrison buildings, slight recesses adjacent to windows creating a subtle play of planes, well detailed
Peterhouse Ward Library, Cambridge
2006
Freeland Rees Roberts
Queens’ College – Cripps Court Entry, New Entry onto Silver St
–
Edward Cullinan Architects
Queens’ College – Erasmus building
1959-60
Basil Spence
The architect’s only Cambridge building – stark and rectilinear – on the Backs at this historic Cambridge college
Queens’ College – Mathematical Bridge, River Cam, off Silver St
Date built: 1749; rebuilt 1867 & 1902
W. Etheridge
Raised Faculty Building, Sidgwick Site
1961
Sir Hugh Casson, Architect
St Catherine’s College – Graduate Hostel
2006-
5th Studio Architects
Cambridge University – Brutalist buildings redevelopment.
St John’s College – Bridge of Sighs, Third Court, The Backs, off St John’s St
1831
Henry Hutchison
St John’s College – Edward Cullinan building, Chapel Court, off St John’s St
1994
Edward Cullinan Architects
St John’s College – Cripps Building, The Backs, off Northampton St
1967
Powell & Moya Architects
Selwyn College – Arcade building
2006
Porphyrios Associates
Senate House
1722-30
James Gibbs Architect
Schlumberger Research Centre, Madingley Rd
1985
Michael Hopkins & Partners
Schlumberger Cambridge building
Squire Law Library – Former Cambridge University Library
1837-42
CR Cockerell
Stephen Hawking Building – Gonville & Caius College, West Road
–
Donald Insall Associates
Travel Lodge Hotel Cambridge, Cambridge Leisure Park, Clifton Way, off Hills Rd
2003-04
Proctor Matthews, Architects
Cool modern on the outside but with fairly traditional bedrooms within. Pictured is the warm-coloured west facade; the east facade facing a generous new square is cool-coloured and styled differently.
The Triangle, Station Road, southeast Cambridge
2007
HTA Architects
Mixed-use development, primarily residential
Ref. Richard Rogers Partnership proposals rejected by planners.
Trinity College – Wolfson building, centre of Cambridge
1972
Architects Co-partnership
Ziggurat-like building.
Trinity College – Fellows building
2004
Ian Simpson Architects
Trinity Hall Student Accommodation
2008
RH Partnership – Cambridge architects
University Arms Hotel, Regent St, Parker’s Piece
1965-66
Feilden & Mawson
William Stone Building, Peterhouse College
1963-64
Leslie Martin
Location: Cambridge, Southeast England, UK.
Cambridge Walking Tours by e-architect guides
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Cambridge Architecture Links
John McAslan + Partners architects for the Museum of Zoology
Cambridge University Library architect : Giles Gilbert Scott
Impington Village College, Cambridgeshire
–
Design: Gropius & Fry
Girton College Library and Archive
Architect: Allies and Morrison
RIBA Awards 2006 – East
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Key Public Spaces in the city – Cambridge Campuses, Squares & Parks
The Backs:
picture © Adrian Welch
Sidgwick Site:
picture © Adrian Welch
Sidgwick Site View – James Stirling History Faculty building, Allies & Morrison building beyond, Giles Gilbert Scott’s Cambridge University Library tower in distance
Buildings / photos for the New Cambridge Architecture Designs page welcome