Student Accommodation
54-56 Park Street, Bristol
Client: Urban Creation
54-56 Park Street, nestled amidst Bristol’s vibrant landscape, has stood as a silent witness to the city’s evolution. Originally constructed in the 1950s, its inception was marked by the need for post-war reconstruction, following severe bomb damage during WWII. Stemmed from a transformative vision, it seamlessly blends historical preservation with contemporary functionality. The project aimed not only to restore the building’s former glory but also to create a space conducive to modern living.
Central to the renovation was the meticulous redesign of the building’s structure. The conversion of two floors of redundant office space above retail units, coupled with the addition of a new mansard roof, breathed new life into the architectural landscape of Park Street. In an era increasingly defined by sustainability, the renovation of 54-56 Park Street embraced eco-friendly practices. High-performance timber windows, renewable technologies integrated into the roof, and thermal upgrades ensured both environmental consciousness and energy efficiency.
At 54-56 Park Street, transformation extended beyond the physical realm to embrace community enrichment. By offering high-quality student accommodation featuring ensuites and shared facilities, a sense of inclusivity and liveliness blossomed within the neighbourhood.
The project’s success hinged on collaborative accomplishments. Partnering with M&E Engineers, fire engineers, and consulting firms enabled a unified approach to negotiate renovation complexities while prioritising resident safety and satisfaction.
New Century Place 1 & 2, Reading
Client: Studious Construction Ltd
We were appointed to provide Building Regulations services for the conversion of two office buildings into 135 high quality student accommodation units. The state-of-the-art conversion included the creation of a private fitness suite, residents club lounge, dinner party room and quiet study rooms. Alongside Cook Brown Energy, we were soon after appointed on a further new build five storey building comprising a further 135 student units.
Renny’s Lane, Durham
We provided Building Control services throughout the construction of this new student accommodation building that created 362 student bedrooms and communal facilities for the students of Durham. The expansive property features an on-site cinema, private fitness studio, residents lounge, electric fob entry and CCTV. We were pleased to be involved in another luxury regeneration development.
East Durham College, Houghall Campus
Client: Robertson Construction
We were appointed to carry out full Building Control services on this multi-million-pound scheme to modernise and refurbish East Durham College’s Houghall Campus. We worked with Robertson Construction on the erection of a 198-bed student accommodation block and the refurbishment of Weardale House, an original student housing block built in 1938. The refurbishment brought the building back into use in the form of twenty-four studio bedrooms. The new development provides high standard facilities for students studying in and around Durham.
Walter Road, Swansea
Client: Carnegie Property Partners
Photo Credit: Student Cribs
Carnegie Property Partners appointed us on the conversion, extensions and alterations to facilitate a change of use from offices to eight apartments for student accommodation in central Swansea.
Berkeley House, Bristol
Client: Featured Developments
Berkeley House is a 43 student bed property that consists of 22 en-suite cluter bedrooms and 21 en-suite studios. The rooms are spread over 5 floors and has a convenient location in central Bristol opposite the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre. The building was originally constructed in 1990 to serve as office accommodation and has been refurbished to student accommodation complete with common room, study area, pool table, cycle spaces, gymnasium and intercom system to all flats.
Parkside, Weston Super Mare
Client: DPL Partnership Ltd
Working with the architect Origin 3 Studio, we were appointed by the client, DPL Partnership Ltd, on the conversion of an existing office building into student accomodation comprising of 13 cluster flats, 5 one-bedroom studios, 15 two-bedroom studios and a wardens flat together with communal space. The student accommodation has been purpose built for the nearby university campus and takes into has the welfare of the students at its heart.
Wellsway, Bath
Client: Rengen Ltd / CTS Construction
Appointed by Rengen Ltd and working alongside CTS Construction, we provided Building Regulations services for the construction of this three-storey student accommodation block in Bath. There were some Part B compliance challenges that arose during the build but these were worked through with the client and resolved quickly
Student Accommodation, UWE
Client: University of the West of England
Overview
Cook Brown Building Control was appointed to provide building control services for the University of the West of England’s ambitious new student accommodation project. The bid for the project was submitted in 2019 and designed during the Covid-19 pandemic. This project involved the construction of a 900-bed Passivhaus-standard student accommodation, encompassing three separate buildings along with associated external and internal communal areas.
Testimonial
‘‘It has been a pleasure working with Cook Brown on this exciting project at UWE, and have found them hugely professional and proactive in ensuring that successful certification was achieved.’’
Gary Musson, Project Manager
