Phase 1 of University Living Scheme Complete
The first phase of a £6.5m refurbishment at the University of Liverpool’s Melville Grove student residence has been completed following a design by Chester-based architectural, building surveying and planning consultancy practice, Cassidy + Ashton.
The scheme builds on the firm’s track record in the education sector and has seen the company completely update the internal layout of existing accommodation blocks to better reflect contemporary student living.
The four-phase programme, delivered by main contractor University of Liverpool Special Projects, will complete in January 2016 in a project that involves four sectional completion dates to enable the university to make accommodation available to students as each phase completes.
Dave Owen, director at Cassidy + Ashton, explains: “Student accommodation provides a key differentiator for universities and this scheme is part of a sustained programme by the University of Liverpool to improve its existing student accommodation assets while building new ones.
“Students expect a high level of comfort, convenience and amenities and Melville Grove is ideally located on the university’s city centre campus so, with the improvements being delivered thanks to this refurbishment programme, it will offer the ideal base for students.”
The refurbishment scheme includes a redesign of all the development’s apartments, with a new open plan layout incorporating a living/dining/kitchen area along with an upgrade to the bedrooms.
Internal finishes will be updated throughout each apartment and the upgrade also includes new windows and a new mechanical and electrical installation, including high speed Wi-Fi throughout. The project also involves new hard and soft landscaping in the development’s grounds.
A total of 18 blocks have been completed to deliver phase 1, each containing seven apartments. The remaining 31 blocks will be refurbished during future phases, providing high quality accommodation for 338 students following final handover.
Andy Murphy, facilities, residential and commercial services at the University of Liverpool adds: “The improvements at Melville Grove form part of the University of Liverpool’s £250 million redevelopment programme for the University’s student accommodation.
“The significant investment will deliver new world-class facilities together with ongoing improvement and refurbishment of our existing estate and key infrastructure.”
