BDP - Mixed-Use Development - Bristol, Concrete Awards for UWE's Frenchay Campus
Date: 24 Nov 2006
The prestigious new student village and sports facility at the University of the West of England's Frenchay Campus, Bristol won a Certificate of Excellence in the Building Category at the annual Concrete Society Awards on 10 November. This awards initiative recognises excellence in the use of concrete in new structures, in only two categories - Building and Civil Engineering. In a complementary Award presented at the same ceremony the UWE Student Village was voted Overall Winner of the British Precast Project Awards in the building category.
The new BDP designed campus which now houses 2000 students, was constructed in 40 weeks using an innovative precast flat-pack system supplied by Buchan Concrete Solutions. This solution saved time and limited the amount of waste during construction, as well as minimising noise on site. In addition the internal walls are so well finished there is no need for plastering and can be painted on directly, and the prestressed slabs are laid so flat that screeding is unnecessary. Project architect Matthew Mayes said "The Buchan flat packs were chosen for their durability, good acoustic and fire qualities, high thermal mass and compatibility with preferred cladding systems."
The judges commented "The project demonstrates innovation with the use of wide slab construction, as well as significant construction management challenges in the erection programme. The three criteria on which construction projects are most often judged are time, cost and quality. On all three counts this project hits the bull's eye"
The residences, which opened to students in September, are arranged in four courtyards of six and seven storey blocks, and were crafted as a forward thinking sustainable development from the outset conserving energy and minimising waste.
BDP was architect, structural and services engineer and landscape architect; Capita Symonds was project manager; The main contractor was Carillion and the construction cost was £77m.
Two further BDP designed projects also received accolades on the night
A Concrete Society commendation in the Building Category went to the Roche Headquarters, Welwyn Garden City, where a highly rationalised superstructure frame of flat concrete slabs supported on circular concrete columns allowed easy coordination with services and architecture and enabled the building to be constructed safely, to the highest quality and faster than programme.
A high commendation in the building category of the British Precast Project Awards was given to Perth Concert Hall
University of the West of England's Frenchay campus student housing.
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