On 2 November, the Oxford Preservation Trust gave University College an award for our Main Quad re-paving and also commended Percy’s new penthouse!

The Main Quad repaving and addition of the Hall ramp is part of the Lodge refurbishment to ensure level access with level thresholds for the new Lodge and Fellows’ post room off staircase IV, along with staircase V and VI. The OPT recognized the contributions of Original Field of Architecture and Landscape, Hickman Brothers Landscaping, Broadleaf Joinery, and the University College Surveyor to the project.

Percy’s penthouse

Meanwhile, Percy’s home, The Tortoise House & Enclosure (Percy’s Penthouse), received a “Lettuce of Commendation”. After an eventful 2020, Percy was installed in his new home earlier this year. The judges commented, “The Tortoise House is whimsical and funny. It’s quirky, what Oxford is about.” All the judges were enthralled, not just by the Tortoise House, but with Percy himself, calling him “the most charismatic of tortoises”. They agreed that Percy’s penthouse has set a precedent for animal welfare for all tortoises around the University.

The Oxford Preservation Trust Awards, now in their 44th year, celebrate the contribution that buildings and environmental projects can make to Oxford’s character, its streets and its green spaces.

Published: 17 November 2021

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