Project of the week

WHAT: A hall of residence for students at Bristol University based in the city centre.

WHEN: Started on site in February 2004, opened in September 2005.

WHO: QS: Gleeds, client: Dominion Housing Group, contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine.

HOW MUCH: £9.1m.

CONTRACT: JCT 1998 Design & Build.

VITAL STATS: The scheme is 4,910m2 and comprises 200 ensuite, furnished rooms spread over nine blocks and arranged in cluster flats of between four and seven bedrooms.

ISSUES: “It was a sensitive job because the site was near to both a conservation area of period houses and central Bristol.

The planners insisted we kept an existing 18th-century building that was on the site and incorporated it into the scheme. It’s made for an interesting contrast between the new and old buildings.

We were originally going to build in load-bearing masonry and concrete planks, but the acoustic requirements of Part L meant we had to switch to a concrete solution. It did delay things but we were able to absorb the time element. The halls had to open by September come what may.” – David Walters, associate, Gleeds.

SPECIAL FEATURE: The scheme includes a copper and zinc roof to match the traditional look of the area.