UK: The winning project in a nationwide design challenge for a parcel room will be built and introduced in one of Collegiate UK and Now Student Living‘s purpose-built student accommodations (PBSA).
Designed by Ilias Gkoumas, from the University of Portsmouth, the concept aims to blend functionality and aesthetics with a structured black grid and primary-coloured compartments for organised storage, with aesthetics inspired by the De Stijl art movement and Mondrian’s geometric abstraction.
The challenge was sponsored by the digital concierge Parcel SafePlace and the furniture supplier LOFT.
Gkoumas’s project will also be showcased in LOFT’s flagship showroom, reflecting the growing desire for
well-designed amenity spaces that blend both form and function.
Following an extensive judging process, Collegiate UK and Now Student Living have announced that they will be looking to integrate the winning design into one of their properties.
The two student accommodations operators found that residents visit parcel rooms on average six times per month, meaning parcel rooms have become a touchpoint in their daily lives.
However, they said, these rooms are often overlooked amenity spaces, with cost efficiency and functionality prioritised over aesthetics.
Gkoumas’s design prioritises sustainability, with a durable, recyclable steel frame finished in eco-friendly, non-toxic paint and motion-sensor LED lighting to improve energy efficiency and accessibility, ensuring an uncluttered layout and locker positioning to accommodate all residents, including those with mobility challenges.
Neil Burton, managing director at Collegiate UK, said: “Parcel rooms are a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of student accommodation, and this competition has had a substantial impact on our design process as we look to integrate within our portfolio. The students have demonstrated that combining style, sustainability, and functionality we can create engaging environments that enhance resident experience and align with the high standards of modern PBSA.”
Paul Watson, managing director at Now Student Living, said: “Operators and developers should view parcel rooms as resident-facing amenities that contribute to the overall design aesthetic of a building. The winning design successfully balances aesthetics, usability, and sustainability.”
The competition, judged by industry experts from Parcel SafePlace, LOFT, Collegiate UK, Now Student Living, and Building Design & Construction Magazine, also recognised two runners-up:
Ben Broughton (Robert Gordon University), who designed a highly accessible post room, featuring wheelchair-friendly layouts and braille signage, and Georgia Green (Norwich University of the Arts), who created a biophilic-inspired space integrating natural wood, greenery, and recycled materials.
Dustin Fjeld, CEO & founder of Parcel SafePlace, said: “Residents engage with parcel rooms frequently, and this competition has demonstrated the opportunity to enhance these spaces by integrating aesthetics alongside operational efficiency. At Parcel SafePlace, we collaborate with operators to ensure seamless functionality, and this initiative has highlighted how design can further elevate the resident experience. We encourage investors and developers to align amenity budgets with evolving resident expectations, creating core
spaces that are both highly functional and visually inspiring.”
Laura Lian Clarke, business development director at LOFT, said: “This challenge provided students with a fantastic opportunity to showcase their talent. The winning design demonstrates that a parcel room can be more than just a functional space, it can be a seamless extension of the wider living space, enhancing the overall student experience. At LOFT, we are constantly looking into how we can enhance the resident experience through innovative design, and we are excited to host this fantastic winning entry in our showroom.”
Highlights:
- University of Portsmouth student Ilias Gkoumas wins UK-wide PBSA design challenge for parcel room
- Winning post room design blends sustainability, accessibility, and aesthetics and will soon be featured in one of Collegiate UK and Now Student Living’s student accommodation
- Backed by Parcel SafePlace and LOFT, the project aims to reimagine parcel rooms as key amenity spaces, reflecting evolving resident needs in modern PBSA
