The project was to convert an existing building into 149 bedroom student accommodation block in North London. The project was constructed with the following key drivers:

• Use of an existing concrete frame with no changes to the grid
• Light weight construction to add an additional level with no foundation / under pinning requirements.
• Use of renewable technologies for the primary heat source. Which was achieved using biomass. Brown roof and associated BREEAM related designs.

Through extensive value engineering the project budget was driven down by 10% pre construction to allow the project to become financially viable.

The concrete frame was surveyed and detailed design carried out to allow the client standard room designs to be worked around the existing frame. The building heating system was designed and installed to make use of a biomass boiler as the primary heat source. The design worked round the existing plant space, including the relevant storage requirements.

All roof construction on the project was designed to have brown roofs applied to the roof membrane, driven by planning and BREEAM related issues.