Elizabeth College students shown around Perrot Court
ELIZABETH College finally opened the doors of Perrot Court to its students yesterday as they were able to see the redevelopment of the former Royal Bank of Canada in its full glory.
Previously named Canada Court and built in the early 1980s, the site was sold to Elizabeth College for £4.75m. at the start of 2020.
Elizabeth College principal Jenny Palmer said the project had been more than five years in the making and when the opportunity arose for the college to acquire the building, there was only going to be one answer.
‘Our first meeting was in September 2017. We have always been looking to expand but we are on a constrained Town site, so it is not easy.’
Perrot Court directly connects to the main school site via a level access bridge, integrating it as part of the Elizabeth College campus.
In total around £12m. was spent on the project, including the purchase price, with the funds raised through the College’s foundation ‘chance of a lifetime’ appeal, existing funds, borrowing, and a substantial legacy from Old Elizabethan Roger Perrot (5450), who the building is named after.
Main contractors RG Falla, working in conjunction with architect Levitt Bernstein, started construction in May 2021, with an original goal to be finished by the end of August 2022. However, a number of small delays meant this was pushed back six months.
Mrs Palmer said the project did not come without its difficulties.
‘The pandemic and Brexit proved big challenges.
‘The two main issues were manpower and purchase of materials,’ she said.
