New Delhi, Nov 2, 2024: Days within the passing of legendary Indian business leader Ratan Tata, Somerville College at the University of Oxford has announced the construction of the Ratan Tata Building on its campus. Set for construction beginning Spring 2025, the Ratan Tata Building will be an inclusive and collaborative space designed with sustainability at its core.
Being built within the prestigious Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, the new building is made possible through a landmark philanthropic gift from the Tata Group, which is also said to be the biggest donation to Oxford till date.
Central to this project is the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD), which will be housed permanently within the Ratan Tata Building. A cornerstone of research and global collaboration, the OICSD will further its mission to address key environmental and sustainability challenges. The partnership between Somerville and the Tata Group mirrors their shared commitment to real-world impact, cementing a friendship that has spanned over a decade. 
Its four floors will feature seminar rooms, collaborative workspaces and residential facilities for visiting scholars, all thoughtfully crafted to foster interdisciplinary interaction. With its unique location opposite Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the building will enhance Somerville’s presence on one of Oxford’s most historic sites. Somerville’s new building will occupy the last remaining plot of land available for development on the prestigious Radcliffe Observatory Quarter site, directly opposite the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.
In an official statement released on their website, Somerville College Principal, Baroness Royall, shared her thoughts: “This building embodies years of shared dreams and aspirations between Somerville and Mr. Tata. It stands as a testament to his visionary support of global scholarship and innovation.” Mr. N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Mr. Tata’s lifelong belief that research and development are essential to progress.
Designed by the London-based Morris+Company, the building will balance Oxford’s historic heritage with Somerville’s progressive outlook. Joe Morris, CEO of Morris+Company, said, “We envisioned a space that combines sustainability with the evolving needs of academia, creating an environment that will foster meaningful collaboration.”
This shared vision for a sustainable future finds a powerful platform in the Ratan Tata Building, a collaborative effort that will integrate both advanced green design principles and Tata’s enduring values of equity, inclusion and global progress.
The Tata Group, a pioneering force in Indian industry, has long embraced sustainable and socially responsible practices across its global operations. Through Tata Sustainability Group and Tata Trusts, the organization has developed impactful initiatives in clean energy, water conservation and environmental stewardship. The company’s investments in renewable energy — spanning solar and wind projects — and their commitment to zero-waste-to-landfill processes embody Tata's drive to set a high standard for corporate sustainability. With these values at the heart of its operations, the Tata Group has built a legacy as a responsible innovator, integrating economic growth with environmental accountability.
The Tata group is known for donating generously to educational institutions within India as well as abroad. It gave ₹950 million to IIT Bombay, which was the largest ever donation received in its history. As part of its international philanthropies, the Tata Education and Development Trust endowed a $28 million Tata Scholarship Fund that allowed Cornell University to provide financial aid to undergraduate students from India. In 2008, Tata gifted Cornell $50 million, becoming the largest international donor in the university’s history. It has also given donations and endowments to several universities like Harvard Business School (HBS), Carnegie Mellon University and Indian Institute of Science.
In his will, late Ratan Tata is said to have given his assets to Tata Foundation, his brother Jimmy Tata and his half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy. He has also bequeathed his 0.83% shares in Tata group companies for the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (RTEF), which is a charitable organization.
Founded in 2022 as a Section 8 company dedicated to non-profit causes RTEF is set to become the main conduit for the substantial wealth of Ratan Tata. With an estimated estate of ₹10,000 crore, RTEF is expected to receive a significant portion of Tata’s fortune.
