Sherlock Court, St Catharine’s College University of Cambridge

OR Consulting was appointed to undertake a masterplan design study for the refurbishment of Sherlock Court, a key part of St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Sherlock Court consists of several listed buildings, which have been interconnected to provide student accommodation, Master’s accommodation, and retail units. To meet the client’s goals, OR Consulting developed a series of design measures aimed at enhancing energy performance and modernizing infrastructure.

Key aspects of the design include:

• Improving passive energy performance — enhancing the building envelope to optimize thermal efficiency.
• Optimizing active building systems — improving the efficiency of heating, lighting, and hot water services to reduce energy consumption.
• Reducing carbon emissions — adopting strategies to ensure the building’s environmental footprint is minimized.
• Rationalizing and upgrading mechanical plant — improving the performance and reliability of the mechanical systems.
• Upgrading utility infrastructure — modernizing Sherlock Court’s utilities to ensure reliability and future flexibility.
• Upgrading and rationalizing all electrical, mechanical, and domestic water services — ensuring a resilient, efficient distribution system that supports the building’s needs.
• Revamping lighting installations — radically improving both the aesthetic appeal and energy performance of lighting systems.
• Introducing additional toilet and shower facilities — addressing the growing demand for student amenities and improving comfort.

This project represents a careful balance between historic preservation and modernization, ensuring that Sherlock Court remains an efficient and comfortable space while respecting its architectural heritage.