STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SNAPSHOT

Introduction

Founded in 1879, making us one of the longest established architectural practices in the country, GSSArchitecture have developed into a national practice, with offices in Kettering, Harrogate, Gloucester, Milton Keynes and Newcastle.

We are Chartered Architects, Lead Consultants, Quantity Surveyors and Principal Designers, and can also provide an all-encompassing design team solution for our clients. We are a dynamic, forward thinking practice that delivers innovative solutions from initial concepts and masterplanning through to delivery and completion.

We do not adopt a “standard layout” approach to our designs for student residences. Each residential development is considered individually to suit a site specific requirement, and in developing any proposals we undertake extensive stakeholder consultation from inception. This consultation continues throughout the duration of the project.

Finally, our in-house quantity surveyors are able to ensure we are able to work alongside clients and/or developers in developing business plans to ensure the most efficient payback period possible, whilst also considering the whole-life cost of the building, not solely the one-off capital cost.

Student Accommodation Experience

Oxford Brookes UniversityCheney Halls - 750 bedspacesClive Booth Campus - 592 bedspacesPostgraduate Centre - 364 bedspacesHarcourt Hill - 316 bedspacesMorrell Halls - 178 bedspacesUniversity of NorthamptonSimon Senlis & Spencer Perceval Halls - 600 bedspacesWilliam Carey Hall - 300 bedspacesBassett-Lowke Hall - 232 bedspacesMargaret Bondfield Hall - 211 bedspacesDurham UniversityNew College Campus - 1,000 bedspacesQueen’s Campus masterplan - 706 bedspacesUniversity of the West of EnglandCampus masterplan, including design for 3,000 bedspacesCranfield University900 bedspaces (refurbishment)Moulton College140 bedspacesUniversity of East AngliaBenchmarking financial exercise for 400 bedspacesUniversity College WorcesterDesign for 350 bedspacesTresham InstituteDesign for 200 bedspacesUniversity of BristolDesign for 500 bedspaces

Sustainable Accommodation

GSSArchitecture are committed to delivering energy efficient buildings and ensure these values are integrated into the design from inception through to completion.

For each project we review several initial design options to inform the university’s preferred master plan. This will often include a range of accommodation densities to reflect the key drivers of the business plan, whilst also assessing, at the early stages, the potential impact each option would have on the surrounding environment and the opportunities for improving future sustainable performance. Our option appraisals consider the environmental impact as well as opportunities for economic and social sustainability, which in the past have featured a significant area of usable green space with a focus on the pedestrian, to provide a pleasant, safe and sustainable environment. The concept designs may also include a range of other sustainable features such as balancing ponds, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and renewable technology strategies.

Our appraisals usually follow substantial consultation with the end users, the local community and the local authority, to arrive at a design response which is both functionally and contextually appropriate.

GSSArchitecture have extensive experience in producing early feasibility studies on a variety of site types, arming our clients with the information needed to evaluate the commercial viability of their project. With our in-house quantity surveyors, we are able to extend our design services to provide a detailed overview of a development within very tight timescales, formulating a holistic overview of a development’s potential.

Through our strategic partnership, we can extend our services to include planning consultancy, landscape design and land management services.

Feasibility Studies and Layouts

Oxford Brookes University is one of the leading ‘new’ universities, and this project represented the first major investment in accommodation at their Harcourt Hill campus since the University acquired the site in 2004. It involved the demolition of existing accommodation and replacing it with 318 en suite self-catering units.

GSSArchitecture were initially appointed by the University to provide all of the design and cost management services in order to successfully achieve a detailed planning consent. The extensive negotiation process with adjoining owners and the local planning authority resulted in full support for the development and meant an approval for the £15 million scheme was achieved through ‘delegated powers’ some eight weeks after submitting the application.

Oxford Brookes University, Harcourt Hill

University of Hull

GSSArchitecture were appointed by the University of Hull to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ service and lead a consultant design team for the provision of a new £32m student residences development, located at their Cottingham Road Campus.

The development provides around 600 bed spaces, including standard rooms, deluxe rooms and studio flats, together with living/learning spaces, communal kitchens and social spaces. Externally, green flat roofs provide an attractive appearance for the overlooking accommodation.

The scheme also includes a large social space, named the ‘Social Hub’, which provides a collection of facilities to encourage social interaction and engagement with the wider University. This area contains features such as a ‘Masterchef’ style kitchen, a cinema space, games areas and quiet reading room.

Durham University, Josephine Butler College

We were successful in winning a major competition to design a new college with student accommodation at Durham University, with a total value of £35.5 million, through the full OJEU process.

The commission involved designing individual pavilions which incorporated 1,000 bed spaces for students, social provision and student support facilities on two campuses. Much of the project is within sight of the world-famous cathedral and required extreme sensitivity to take account of the ancient fabric of the city. The site is also within a World Heritage Site, together with an adjacent crematorium, and many sensitive planning issues were resolved by consultation and liaison with the local planning authorities and University representatives.

Oxford Brookes University, Clive Booth Postgraduate Centre

This development of 361 bedspaces for postgraduate students required a higher level of specification than a typical student bedroom, one which is more commonly associated with the private residential market. The design includes a mixture of 1 bedroom flats and cluster flats with a mixture of 2 - 6 bedspaces each. All the flats are arranged around a central quadrangle courtyard. The courtyard provides a secure outdoor facility, with grass area, large central water feature which works as a balancing pond, and a social provision building for student and conference use.

The new £14 million development, completed under a design and build contract, complements the University’s existing student village containing Clive Booth Halls and Morrell Halls, both previously completed by GSSArchitecture.

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STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SNAPSHOT