Global Leadership Centre

Reimagining executive education

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Osney Power Station

Just a few minutes walk from our main campus lies the former Osney Power Station. We are developing this much loved building to be an inspirational Global Leadership Centre. 

The teaching and residential facility will provide leaders of global business, government and civil society, with access to the University’s leading academics and brightest minds to help them reconsider their purpose as well as their operations. Business is a vital force in economies and societies. We will provide expert insights and perspectives to enable them to challenge existing systems and become a positive force to address environmental, social and governance issues and benefit society as a whole.

The space will provide an outstanding learning environment designed for the highest quality education. It will facilitate challenging conversations and practical innovation.

The centre will include:

  • An ‘agora’ - a large convening space
  • Flexible classrooms and associated breakout spaces
  • A library
  • Dining space for up to 160 
  • 121 bedrooms for residential clients
  • Wellness centre
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Join us as we start our journey to create an inspirational Global Leadership Centre

Location

Located within a few minutes’ walk of the Saïd Business School building on Park End Street, the Global Leadership Centre will not only form part of a mini business ‘campus’ on the doorstep of the main University area, but also complete the latest chapter in the  University’s long history of regeneration and innovation.

Sustainability

Consistent with the values of the school, the project aims to capitalise upon leading-edge thinking on sustainable development and proposes the use of a solar panel installation on the roof, green roofs, and bird and bat boxes. The scheme also adopts many of the Passivehaus principles for energy efficiency, as well as those from the WELL standard to optimise health and well-being. We will use electric vehicles to service the building. 

Its location next to the railway station, and reduced parking facilities, will also encourage the use of public transport for visitors.

History

Osney Power Station is an important part of Oxford's industrial heritage. It opened on 18 June 1892 on an island site within the River Thames approximately one mile to the west of Oxford’s city centre and powered the first electric lightbulb in Oxford. 

The power station closed in 1968 and apart from some use by Oxford University’s Engineering Department, and most recently for some museum storage, has stood empty since.

It is not listed but is a building of considerable character and presence much loved by residents with its brick faced elevations. The characteristics will be respected and retained to reflect the architectural history of the building.

Latest news

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February 2023 - Continuing removal of buried obstructions and planned commencement of piling at the end of the month.

January 2023 - Continued obstruction removal works, completion of the cathodic protection works, along with structural wall repairs.

December 2022 - Start of internal obstruction removal (buried concrete foundations and structures) to allow main piling works to start.

November 2022 - Completion of demolition phase, with the removal of the roof structure, all internal walls and columns.

October 2022 - The Global Leadership Centre will be home to a protected species. Here is what’s being done to keep them safe

September 2022 - Completion of facade retention system and commencement of main building demolition.

August 2022 - Centre wins a major international architecture award.

July 2022 - Roof removal work started.

June 2022 - Internal demolition of old coal hopper, and the safe removal of asbestos.

May 2022 - Cofferdam removed.

April 2022 - Flood prevention work completed.

January 2022 - Structural support work and restoration of original windows.

Find out more

Contact the Development Team to discuss how you can support this project.

Development.Office@sbs.ox.ac.uk

Learn more about the centre