Editing Downing College, Cambridge (section)

==Buildings==
[[File:Maitland Robinson Library.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|The ''Maitland Robinson Library'' by [[Quinlan Terry]], completed in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qftarchitects.com/projects/pages/universities/maitlandrobinson.php|title=Quinlan Francis Terry Architects|access-date=13 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065246/http://www.qftarchitects.com/projects/pages/universities/maitlandrobinson.php|archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>]]

The architect [[William Wilkins (architect)|William Wilkins]] was commissioned by the trustees of the Downing estate, who included the Master of [[Clare College, Cambridge|Clare College]] and [[St John's College, Cambridge|St John's College]] and the Archbishops of [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]], to design the plan for the college. Wilkins, a disciple of the neo-classical architectural style, designed the first wholly campus-based college plan in the world based on a magnificent entrance on [[Downing Street, Cambridge|Downing Street]] reaching back to form the largest court in Cambridge, extending to [[Lensfield Road]]. But this was not to be.

The estate was much reduced by the suit in Chancery, and the grand plans failed. Much of the north side of what was then the Pembroke Leys was sold to the university and is now home to scientific buildings ("The [[Downing Site]]"). In fact, only limited East and West ranges were initially built, with the plans for a library and chapel on the south face of the college shelved.

[[File:Downing College, Cambridge, England - IMG 0610.JPG|thumb|right|Downing College Chapel (behind the portico), built in 1951]]
The third side of the square was only completed in 1951 with the building of the college chapel. Where the fourth side would have been is now a large paddock (known simply as "The Paddock"), with many trees. Though not fully enclosed, the court formed before the Downing College is perhaps largest in [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] or [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] (a title contested with [[Trinity College, Cambridge|Trinity College's]] [[Trinity Great Court|Great Court]]).

The most recent building additions are the Howard Lodge accommodation, the Howard Building, and most recent of all the Howard Theatre which opened in 2010. These were sponsored by the [[Howard Foundation (UK)|Howard Foundation]], and are located behind the main court around their own small garden. These facilities are used for conference and businesses gatherings outside the student term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downing-conferences-cambridge.co.uk/ |title=Downing College Conferences & Functions, Cambridge |publisher=Downing-conferences-cambridge.co.uk |access-date=15 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Heong Gallery ===

The Heong Gallery, opened in February 2016, is a modern and contemporary art gallery at Downing.  It is named for Alwyn Heong, an alumnus of the college, who is a supporter of the visual arts. The conversion of a stables building by [[Caruso St John]] won a [[Royal Institute of British Architects|RIBA]] regional award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heong Gallery, Downing College|url=https://www.architecture.com/awards-and-competitions-landing-page/awards/riba-regional-awards/riba-east-award-winners/2017/heong-gallery-downing-college|access-date=23 May 2017}}</ref>