By Wojciech Brożyna - MD of Aluprof UK
Over the last decade, the construction of student accommodation projects has increased significantly and still the demand for affordable student accommodation is outstripping supply. With more courses offered by universities in the UK and the increasing number of students from overseas keen to obtain qualifications gained in the UK with the benefit of a full understanding of English and other courses, the increase is not set to abate anytime soon.
At the turn of the millennia, universities offered their own halls of residence on campus for student accommodation and the balance was offered by private landlords, often in repurposed houses across a town or city. With increasing legislation and the problems associated with the breaking up of long term social communities for more transient student lets, private landlords began to invest in private, high rise, purpose built halls of residence known as ‘Purpose Built Student Accommodation’ or PBSA. Over the last few years, there are now more private landlord bedrooms available to students compared to university owned halls. Currently, there is a total of 697,734 beds available and during 2022/23 it is expected that a further 102,000 beds will become available and these numbers are set to increase in future years. (Cushman & Wakefield UK Student Accommodation Report 2022).
Aluprof UK have been very active in this sector since entering the UK fifteen years ago completing thirty three projects which equates to 4% of the current market, with a high number of new student accommodation projects in the pipeline. With quality and sustainability high on specifiers' wish list, aluminium systems are a natural choice, but today there are additional challenges that specifiers need to consider.
Thermal efficiency has always been important for comfort but with rising costs, it is more important than ever to get both windows and reveals correctly specified and designed to ensure the highest efficiency of both window and fixing. Incorrectly done, cold bridging in a window reveal can lose much of the window's high thermal performance. The key here is establishing an early discussion with the specified window systems provider to ensure all fixing details, whether the product is a window, door or curtain wall.
Ensuring thermal efficiency will help reduce running costs of student accommodation, helping keep costs down for the PBSA owner and the student tenant. As the Construction Industry continues to move rapidly towards constructing carbon neutral buildings, we are already seeing higher investment in PBSA with the adoption of Passivhaus construction in some new projects in the UK. Passivhaus uses little or no energy to maintain a comfortable living space, irrespective of outdoor temperature.
It is expected that the growth of Passivhaus construction for PBSA will increase rapidly in the coming years. Aluprof UK are already involved in what is currently claimed to be the world's largest low-carbon student residential development which is being constructed in Bristol for The University of the West of England (UWE). The new development is located at the Frenchay Campus which covers approximately 65,000 sqm and provides 2,250 new student residences. The scheme started on site in 2021 and is set to have the first phase complete for first-year student intake this year. Designed by Passivhaus Trust members, Stride Treglown Architects and QODA Consulting, the new student halls will offer carbon neutral accommodation which falls inline with the University’s ‘2030 strategy’. The project follows on from what will be the second largest student accommodation project completed to date know as the ’The House’ at Cornell Tech in New York.
Aluprof UK became involved in the design development of the UWE scheme from RIBA Stage 2 and worked alongside Stride Treglown, QODA Consulting and Turner & Townsend to develop a high performance facade solution which helps the new development to achieve Passivhaus standards. Facade detailing and cost analysis support was provided by Aluprof UK prior to tender release to ensure budgets met stakeholders' expectations. Aluprof UK also offered tender support to VINCI Construction UK, the main contractor awarded the scheme, in the careful selection of Aluprof experienced subcontractors to deliver a compliant tender. Aluprof UK having been involved in a collaborative process from RIBA Stage 2 onwards and continue to support the project through to its completion.
Aluprof UK are delighted to be leading and supporting the development of Passivhaus construction across the UK and are already working with specifiers and developers on further schemes to help active the UK’s challenge of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Further information is available on the company’s website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK head office in Altrincham on 0161 941 4005.
