UK: Purdown View, a 900-bed PBSA development at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus, has been completed.
The scheme is the largest Passivhaus development of its kind in the UK, and will be fully occupied for the next academic year starting in September.
Arranged across three blocks on a site formerly occupied by Carrol Court student accommodation, the 26,000 square metre scheme was designed by Stride Treglown, Curtins, Amber and QODA, with construction led by VINCI Building.
It is claimed Purdown View will reduce energy by 81 per cent and carbon by 79 per cent per room compared with the housing it replaced.
Sustainability features include triple glazed windows, high levels of insulation and a mechanical ventilation system. As a fossil fuel-free development, any heating required will be generated by air-source heat pumps and electricity will come from solar panels.
Other features include green spaces and a new public art sculpture garden.
Professor Sir Steve West, vice-chancellor at UWE Bristol, said: “We are extremely proud to have completed the largest Passivhaus-accredited student housing project in the UK. It demonstrates our commitment to address the challenges of climate change, move towards our 2030 carbon targets and our commitment to student wellbeing and experience.
“We’re looking forward to seeing these fantastic new energy efficient residences being fully occupied by our students later in the year, helping address the shortage of student accommodation in the city and fulfilling our commitment to make more high quality, purpose-built accommodation available on campus for our first-year students. Purdown View has been partially occupied since January and we have received very positive feedback from students, who have told us they are proud and excited to be part of an innovative development designed to be as energy efficient as possible and tackle climate change issues,” he added.
