Working in partnership with Laing O’Rourke, James Johnson & Co Ltd delivered an £8 million specialist joinery and interior finishes package for the Stephan A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in Oxford. Delivered over a 52-week programme, the project demonstrates our capability to undertake complex, high-value packages where exceptional craftsmanship, detailed coordination and demanding acoustic requirements are central to the finished environment. This follows the concise, delivery-focused style used in our existing project portfolio.
Our works focused on four key performance spaces: the rehearsal space, black box theatre, 250-seat lecture theatre and 500-seat concert hall. Across these areas, James Johnson delivered high-quality acoustic timber finishes, including a particularly complex £1 million feature ceiling formed from more than 7,000 individually raked and curved veneered slats. The precision required throughout the design, manufacture and installation process showcases the strength of our in-house expertise and our ability to translate challenging architectural concepts into beautifully finished interiors.
The project also saw James Johnson expand beyond traditional specialist joinery, with the installation of more than 70 tonnes of GRC within the concert hall’s two-storey basement. A first for the company, this significant element demonstrates our continued evolution as a specialist fit-out contractor and our confidence in the quality and versatility of our people. From intricate bespoke joinery and acoustic finishes through to new construction elements, the project is another example of our ability to successfully manage technically demanding packages while maintaining the standards of quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail associated with James Johnson.
