Oxford University Estates Division to join our 'Science Cities' forum this September
Future Cities Forum is delighted that Jade Piper, Project Director Capital Projects and the Programme Manager for the Medical Sciences Division at the University of Oxford, will be joining our 'Science Cities' discussion event this September.
The event will be hosted by Exeter College, Oxford, in the award-winning Alison Brooks-designed Cohen Quad in Walton Street and Jade will contribute on a panel discussing the design of world class science campuses.
Jade is experienced in capital works delivery with a background as an architect specialising in education, research and healthcare sectors.
The Medical Sciences Division is the largest of Oxford University's four academic divisions and is internationally recognized for excellence in biomedical and clinical research and teaching. It operates across 16 departments, covering a wide spectrum of medical sciences from molecular biology to population health, and collaborates closely with hospitals and research institutions globally. The division is headquartered at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, which facilitates integration between clinical practice and research
Oxford Medical Sciences has been ranked first for 15 consecutive years (2026) by Times Higher Education, reflecting its leadership in both clinical and pre-clinical research. The division fosters innovation, with 81 spin-out companies translating research into practical applications.
Oxford University's wider estate accommodates the day-to-day teaching, learning, research and administrative activities of the central University. It includes some of the oldest and finest buildings in the city as well as showcasing much newer, state-of-the-art architecture.
It states:
'We are responsible for the repair and upkeep of some of the finest buildings in Oxford, including the Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian Theatre and Old Bodleian Library.
'We take our responsibility to managing so much of the city’s magnificent historical centre very seriously. We are committed to meeting it in full through good stewardship of the buildings in our care. All our historical buildings receive regular inspections and sensitive maintenance and restoration work when this is needed.
'Whether we are repairing decayed stonework on the grotesques of the Bodleian’s Schools Quadrangle, restoring the Museum of Natural History’s geometric flooring to its former glory or replacing the lead statues on the roof of the Clarendon Building, we always strive to ensure that Oxford’s priceless architectural heritage is handed down to the next generation in a better condition than we received it.
'We own and manage 67 listed buildings including the three famous Grade I listed ones mentioned above. Other Grade I buildings include our museums: the Ashmolean Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Museum of the History of Science.
'Around 20% of the total University estate is listed, as well as many of our college buildings – these are managed by the colleges themselves rather than by the central University.
'Estates Services works closely with our Equality and Diversity Unit and with Student Welfare and Support Services to ensure that our buildings accommodate disabled access needs, and adjustments are made to existing buildings where necessary.
'Throughout all refurbishment and construction projects we meet the architects to ensure that we exceed building regulations on disabled access.
'Conservation Management Plans are currently in place for many of our listed buildings. These draw together information from archives, planning records, books, and websites, providing an invaluable resource for building managers, architects and planners.
'They also assist in the preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments for any planning applications for work on listed buildings which are submitted.'
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