This autumn, the Estates team at Royal Holloway are providing the local community with updates on the refurbishments to the Chestnuts building and the building of new, accessible pathways.

Refurbishment works to the Chestnuts building, located on Chestnut Drive in Egham, were completed at the end of summer with the historic building transformed into a welcoming and contemporary space for the Department of Health Studies.

Originally built in the late 1800s, historic features such as fireplaces, masonry and brickwork have been preserved, as has the original ‘lantern’ on the roof of the building. There have also been significant restoration efforts to retain the original Victorian façade of the building, which includes external brickwork and decorative elements.

Previously a disused building, Chestnuts has been extensively renovated to create a future-facing space, with new office accommodation, collaborative areas and new teaching spaces. Both sustainability and accessibility have been driving principles throughout the works and it has led to the conversion of gas heating to electricity via air source heat pumps, as well as the installation of solar PV panels and a lift for visitors with accessibility needs. 

Adjacent to Chestnuts, new accessible pathways and infrastructure have been created to provide a fully accessible route from the University’s George Eliot accommodation to Sutherland House. The pathways and access are open to the community, offering an alternative route away from the A30.

Piers Long, Deputy Director of Estates at Royal Holloway, said: “As a University at the heart of such a vibrant community, we will continue to explore opportunities to enhance our facilities within the campus and improve our surrounding local area.”