Second major award for Library roof restoration

A complex project to restore the vaulted roof of the College’s iconic Rosemary Murray Library has been recognised with a second UK-wide award.

The restoration of the Grade 2* listed building, a unique architectural gem and one of the lynchpin elements of the College’s modernist estate, came top in its category in the industry-wide UK Roofing Awards 2026. The awards are a recognised benchmark for excellence in the industry.

The honour comes just weeks after the project was named 2026 Project of the Year in its category in awards run by the Liquid Roofing and Water Proofing Association (LRWP), triumphing over four other shortlisted schemes of similar scale. Liquid roofing, which involves applying a waterproof coating rather than traditional felt, is particularly suited to buildings with unusual or challenging shapes.

The latest win saw the restoration triumph in the Cold Applied Liquid Waterproofing category, competing this time against projects of all sizes. Also on the shortlist were the Jersey Opera House, Christ’s College, Cambridge – where a roof dating back over 300 years was restored and made safe, and the London office development 25 Moorgate. 

The Rosemary Murray Library, with its long concrete barrel vault echoing the flowing lines of the Dome dining hall, is a masterpiece of mid-century modernism and one of the College’s best-loved spaces. However, more than 60 years after it was built to the groundbreaking design of architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the roof had become damp, dirty and badly in need of repair. 

Works commissioned by the College Bursar, Rob Hopwood, and overseen by Head of Estates Calvin Kemp were carried out during the summer and early autumn of 2025. The Library remained open to students and other users throughout.

Millane Contract Services, working with WestWood Liquid Technologies, worked within the tight constraints imposed by the building’s listed status, stripping back and restoring the damaged roof, adding new, specially moulded insulation and coating the barrel structure with a waterproofing liquid using giant rollers. Finally, they added a stippled white finish precisely matching the original aesthetic.

College Acting President Dr Rachel Polonsky said: 'We are thrilled that our Library Transformation Project has been graced with a second award. This recognition of the care and skill that we devote to maintaining our beautiful estate gives us renewed confidence in our ambitious plans for its future development.'

The Bursar thanked, 'the many experts involved in this important work - Millane, WestWood, Watts, Quantem and project manager Stuart Johnson - a cohesive team which the College brought together to deliver an innovative, complex project and now a double award-winning outcome. As a result, we can look forward with added confidence to the delivery of further major projects from the College’s ambitious estate plans.'

Calvin said: ‘I’m immensely proud to see the Library roof recognised among the 2026 winners—an acknowledgement of the careful stewardship, collaboration and specialist skill required to successfully deliver such a complex and important refurbishment to the College.’

Winners of the latest awards received their trophies at ceremony on 8 May 2026. A record-breaking number of entries were submitted this year for roofing and cladding in 21 categories. A range of criteria was taken into consideration by the judging pane,l including the degree of difficulty, aesthetics, problem-solving, Health and Safety, workmanship and environmental qualities.