The University of Birmingham commissioned 3, 4, 5 and 6 storey student accommodation blocks arranged in three concentric crescents of 6 blocks per crescent.
A total of 806 single en-suite rooms are arranged in 6-bedroom flats with associated kitchens and lounge areas along with 36 double room penthouse suites.
The crescents are situated by a lake in a grade I listed park. Each block has a deep cellular in situ reinforced waterproof concrete basement that acts as a raft foundation, while also providing general storage and localised plant and services for the individual blocks. There is a central serÂvice centre that serves each local basement with piped hot water.
Our designs included cellular RC deep rafts that provide even support over variable ground conditions and cantilevered foundations over an existing 36-inch foul water sewer traversing the site and cutting across the corner of one of the blocks.
The superstructure was constructed from pre-cast concrete elements to provide a robust qualÂity finish and add thermal mass to even out the change in room temperatures across the day and reduce the life cycle costs of running the heating and cooling systems.
The window configuration made the stability of the external walls providing diaphragm action complex to achieve.