The historic Beit Quadrangle, originally
built in 1910 but extended throughout the last century, has reopened to house
300 students.
The Rector, Sir Ricahrd Sykes, Lady Beit and Sir Alan Munro |
Refurbishment has created student study
bedrooms and conference accommodation during vacations, as well as improved
facilities for Imperial College Union.
At an official reopening of Beit Hall last
Friday, rector, Sir Richard Sykes, thanked Lady Beit for reopening Beit Hall.
"It is a rare privilege to be able to renew links with a family that had such
a profound and lasting effect on the formation of Imperial College," he told
assembled guests.
Lunch in the Union, May 1962 |
"Alfred and Otto Beit began a tradition
of benefaction and support for education and scientific research which was continued
by College Fellow, Sir Alfred Lane Beit, on the death of his father Otto. It
continues today through the Beit Trustees who we are delighted to have here
today."
Alfred Beit and his co-founder and funder
of the Royal School of Mines building, Sir Julius Wernher, are commemorated
in the stone entrance to the building on Prince Consort Road as shining examples
of Victorian philanthropy. Without their bequests neither that building, nor
the Quadrangle, would exist.
Construction on Aston Webb’s designs began
in 1910, with an extension, the addition of two floors, in the late 1950s.
"Aston Webb understood the importance of
student accommodation and residential study to an institution such as Imperial,"
continued the rector. "The College is a community, an international family of
students, staff and alumni, and living conditions for our students are of the
utmost importance.
"We have very many reasons to thank the
Beit family. In the Beit Quadrangle, we can see the magnificent result of Sir
Otto’s very generous bequest."
After a tour of the accommodation, Lady
Beit presented the rector with a photograph of the original Wernher and Beit
office in Kimberley, South Africa, made of corrugated iron.
"Alfred Beit was a kindly man of integrity
and a philanthropist who gave money in the interest of science," she said. "I’m
glad to say there’s still a close connection. My husband’s nephew, Alan, is
a trustee and has been a member of the governing Council for the last six years.
"It’s a really great honour to open this.
The association between the College and my family is as old as Imperial College.
It’s a superb building that does honour to the original benefactor. Our family’s
association spans four generations and the reconstruction of Beit Hall offers
practical advantages which didn’t exist before."
