Architect - John Simpson and Partners

Contractor - Kvaerner

Brief description of works carried out –

In 2000, George Cook and Sons were awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Plaisterers Trophy competition, in recognition of the high quality of the work carried out at Gonville and Caius College. The majority of their work was in the new dining room and the Monro room, which were accommodated in the two rooms housing the former library. The panelled ceiling of the dining room was set out and plastered to a very fine tolerance to allow for the decorative patterns which were painted on. The tops of the walls are finished with a frieze consisting of plaster casts obtained from the British Museum of a stone frieze recovered from the Temple of Bassae. The high ornate barrelled ceiling of the Monro room was based on an original design by John Soane which was never used. The large panels are edged with a series of interconnecting balls , a small reed moulding and contain a decorative patara. At various points the ceiling is divided by a guilloche moulding. At one end is a high level arched screen with beaded bullnose openings. At the base of the ceiling is a modillion cornice and entablature containing a honeysuckle design which is duplicated on the pilaster caps. Elsewhere in tbe building is a lobby ceiling consisting of a series of interconnecting saucer domes, panelled ceiling above the Fellows staircase, barrel vaulted ceiling above the Students staircase, a barrel vaulted ceiling supported by Ionic columns standing atop triglyph cornice in the stone staircase, ceiling of the new servery based on a series of arches with high and low level modillion cornice and various other areas of both plain and decorative plasterwork.