The new building for the Faculty of Divinity, located on the Sidgwick site off West Road, generates a series of public, semi-public and private external spaces in relation to its neighbours.

The public square at the entrance provides a meeting place for students of the Divinity, History and the Music Faculties, with a continuation of the pattern of paving materials (silver grey slabs and granite setts) already established in the area. The northwest corner of the site is less public, with a porous bound gravel area beside the Wellingtonia tree providing open cycle parking. A private garden for the Faculty forms the southwest corner of the site, accessible from the main staircase and the ground floor rooms, and connecting with the first floor roof terrace.

Protection of the root systems of the existing trees and western boundary hedge was the priority in determining the position and “footprint” of the building. The landscape specification required that great care be taken to avoid root damage in excavating the building foundations, and in specifying a porous surface material for the pedestrian routes within the sensitive areas adjoining the Wellingtonia, the walnut tree and the privet hedge.