Níall McLaughlin Architects was presented with a range of planning and construction hurdles after it was commissioned to deliver the WongAvery Music Gallery for Cambridge University’s Trinity Hall.

But the practice rose to the challenge of slotting a new building providing practice and performance space into the college’s Avery Court, which is surrounded by grade I and grade II-listed buildings, including the chapels of Trinity Hall and Clare College.

In addition to displaying appropriate reverence to its listed neighbours, the new pavilion needed to ensure that light levels for windows facing the court were maintained. The scheme also had to be buildable with access exclusively via a narrow pedestrian passageway.

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