OCON HANDS OVER £46M STUDENT DEVELOPMENT IN SHEFFIELD
Ocon Construction has completed its third student accommodation design and build project in Sheffield, bringing the total number of student rooms that the contractor has built in the city to 2,500.
The 1,000-room student residence, designed by architects Browne Smith Baker, is part of the £46 million mixed use ‘Opal 3 Sheffield’ development that has seen the contractor combine an early 19th century, Grade II listed drop forge – the ‘Titanic Works’ – with new build student accommodation blocks, a management suite, 10,000 ft² of retail space and 26,000 ft² of office accommodation. The office accommodation has been let to Sheffield University’s English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) for use as teaching space and the university has praised the contractor for its willingness to hand the project over ahead of schedule.
“The ELTC at the University of Sheffield are delighted with the new centre,” comments Richard Simpson, Director of ELTC. “Although full handover is not due until November, Ocon were flexible in delivering part of the building in September to alleviate a classroom shortage. The quality of what has been provided is first class."
The contemporary university accommodation will be anchored to the building’s historical context by a 4.5 metre cast iron sculpture by artist, Jennie Gill, inspired by original engineer’s drawings from the Titanic Works.
The one hectare site also includes 16% open space and basement parking, some of which will be used to service the teaching accommodation with the remainder used for the operation of a car sharing scheme.
The restoration element of the project saw the contractor part demolish the foundry and re-build around 40% of the structure using original bricks, timbers and slates reclaimed from the old structure wherever possible. The restored building will now be used as a recreation area for students and a new-build management suite adjoins this historic building. Ocon has also restored the furnace holes located beneath the management suite, cleaning, painting and repairing these to preserve them for any visitors who seek permission to view them.
Providing student rooms in cluster flats and studios, the student accommodation has been constructed largely of masonry with stone cladding, metal cladding and glazing. All the bathrooms have been prefabricated off site to help ensure quality and delivery to programme. Eco-friendly features include bio-mass boilers, a sedum roof and rainwater collection, building upon Ocon’s reputation for sustainable building.
“Ocon has considerable experience in the student accommodation sector,” adds Clive Williamson, managing director of Ocon Construction, “and this project builds on that expertise. However, with the project’s considerable conservation element and the flexible approach we’ve provided to tailoring the office accommodation to meet the needs of the university, it also demonstrates the breadth of services that we can offer.”
