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Rick Mather Architects have been selected from a shortlist of highly-regarded UK practices in an RIBA competition to design the new auditorium for Corpus Christi College, Oxford. The brief was to produce a scheme delivering a multi-purpose building capable of hosting artistic performances, lectures, conferences, seminars and student social events. in a unique setting, adjacent to a bastion of the medieval city wall.
 
The winning firm scored heavily with the judges by emphasising the relationship of the new building to the college's beautiful gardens, by making the best possible use of its unique setting adjacent to a bastion of the medieval opening city wall, and without compromising the view from the college to Christ Church cathedral. The new auditorium will link conveniently to the college's existing buildings and will provide much improved facilities for Corpus students and fellows and for conference and other outside users.
 
The other shortlisted practices were:

• ABA (Alison Brooks Architects Ltd)
  
• Jamie Fobert Architects
  
• John McAslan + Partners
  
• Snell Associates
  
• Wright & Wright Architects

Commenting on the plans, the President of Corpus Christi, Sir Tim Lankester, said, "This will be the most important new building on the main college site in nearly three hundred years. We had to think long and hard about the range of activities we wished to accommodate and how the new building could complement our existing buildings and gardens within a very compact space. I think Rick Mather has come up with an excellent scheme that is aesthetically pleasing, fits well into our wonderful setting, and will provide a great addition to the college's facilities."