A new home for the Oxford Internet Institute
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, which opened in September 2025, now provides a state-of-the-art home for multiple University of Oxford faculties, including the Oxford Internet Institute (OII). Established through the philanthropy of Mr Schwarzman, the Centre is located in the heart of Oxford’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter.
By bringing together humanities faculties, libraries, and the OII under one roof, the Centre fosters a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment for research and teaching. The OII community has been brought together in one place, strengthening collaboration, innovation, and the exchange of ideas.
The relocation was made possible thanks to a generous gift from the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, establishing the institute as a key node in a global network dedicated to researching and teaching artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
The building was designed by the award-winning firm Hopkins Architects, and provides a range of modern, well-equipped classrooms and lecture theatres to create a stimulating place for studying and research.
Built according to Passivhaus principles, the Centre is an exemplar of energy-efficient design. The site includes new biodiversity and planting, green spaces to sit and relax, extensive cycle parking, and solar power generation on the roof.
For the first time in the University’s history, this is a building explicitly designed for everyone – for concerts, for community and school partnerships, for pathbreaking research and inspiring teaching, or simply for a cup of coffee.
Professor William Whyte
As well as benefiting academics and students, the Schwarzman Centre will welcome the public to a range of venues from Spring 2026, including a 500-seat concert hall, a 250-seat theatre, and a 100-seat Black Box space for experimental performance. Local cultural organisations will be invited to perform in these spaces through partnerships with Oxford researchers.
In addition, a schools and public engagement centre will introduce schoolchildren in Oxfordshire to the world of Oxford University research.
The Schwarzman Centre provides the OII with an inspiring space for research and teaching, enriching the experiences of students, academics, and the wider public, and fostering connections between technology and people.
