PKL Delivers Bespoke Temporary Kitchen & Dining Facility for New College Oxford During £7M Refurbishment

When New College Oxford embarked on a major £7million refurbishment of its 14th century buildings, a temporary kitchen and dining facility was required in order to maintain an uninterrupted meals service to students and staff members as well as retaining its valuable conference and banqueting business.

It was important to maintain the high standard of dining environment, and to keep the temporary facility’s interior environment as similar as possible to that of the College itself. One of the solutions was to replicate the wooden panelling of the College’s own dining hall inside the temporary dining facility, which instantly changed the ambiance of the dining area and brought it more in keeping with the college’s own 14th century surroundings.

The logistics of the delivery were challenging as the College is located in the centre of the city, with Holywell Quad, where the facility was to be sited, only accessible via a narrow archway.

The large kitchen and dining facility was delivered in modular sections then craned onto site and assembled to create a large, comprehensive facility.

“The project has exceeded all expectations, in no little part due to the professionalism and expertise of contractors such as PKL. Their temporary kitchen may not have to last seven centuries like our permanent one but it’s giving great service. It has surpassed all expectations and is a great facility to work in.”

Brian Cole, Catering Manager, New College.