Tuesday 01-04-2025 - 08:30

Dunelm House to become Dunelm College!

As we approach the 60th anniversary of Dunelm House (your SU building!), we are thrilled to announce that our iconic, Grade II-listed brutalist masterpiece will soon be transformed into Dunelm College—Durham's newest college accommodation.

This exciting change comes as part of the University's ongoing commitment to preserving Durham's architectural heritage while expanding its collegiate system. The University hopes to create 1966 new beds. With its prime location overlooking the River Wear and direct access to the city centre, the new college will offer unparalleled views, a rich history, and an unmistakably concrete charm.

What's changing?

• Dunelm House will be repurposed into student accommodation, featuring en-suite rooms in a modernist yet brutalist style.
• Communal spaces, such as the SU Lounge, will be converted into a grand dining hall, inspired by classic collegiate traditions (rumour has it that the menu will include 'Concrete Crumble' as a dessert option).
• The newly rebranded Dunelm College will welcome its first cohort in 2027.

A brutalist legacy

The brutalist, angular concrete structure of Dunelm House was designed by Richard Raines and Michael Powers of the Architects' Co-Partnership and completed in 1966 under the supervision of Sir Ove Arup. The building was designed to complement Arup's Kingsgate Bridge, which opened two years earlier and remains one of Durham's most celebrated engineering feats. Originally serving as a hub for student activity, Dunelm House has housed generations of societies, campaigns, and student nights. Now, as it transitions into Dunelm College, it will continue its legacy, this time as a home for students.

You can find out more about Dunelm's history here.

Have questions? We want to hear from you!

We know this is a big change, and we're sure many of you have thoughts, questions, and (hopefully) excitement about what's to come. That's why we're inviting all students to a Town Hall meeting on 31 April 2025, where you'll have the chance to share your feedback, ask questions, and even contribute to design choices for the new college.

This is a historic moment for both Durham SU and the University—what better way to celebrate 60 years than by welcoming a new community into Dunelm House? 

IN CONCRETO SPERAMUS!