Project Overview

The new build offers 115 student rooms consisting of 60 studios and 55 cluster bedrooms in the heart of Coventry City Centre, with great access to Coventry central train station and university campus.

Abbey House is a seven storey building designed to create 60 luxury Studio apartments and 11 cluster flats containing 55 bedrooms equating to 115 student beds.

Based on a simple rectangle construction the building has a pitched roof and not a flat one which is normally associated with student living. Constructed from pad foundations with a hot-rolled steel portal frame with SFS façade perimeter and concrete hollow rib floors. The building has a main over croft above the main entrance with brick slip elevations to the east and west, a black trespa wrap then covers the north and south with a Kingspan warm roof.

• Kingspan pitched roof
• CHP boiler producing 20kw
• Mixed mode ventilation
• UPVC glazed windows
• Gym
• 2 multi-function rooms
• Separate laundry room
• Large communal student areas with work benching set in a modern atmosphere
• Internal waste storage with ventilation
• Separate reception and staff kitchen
• DDA equipped bedroom with a single lift.

Added Value

Torsion Group changed the design of the studios part way through the build construction for the benefit of the client’s wishes. A re-design to the ground floor communal area to incorporate the client’s wishes and expectations of the design.

Some of the challenges incurred on site by the project delivery team included;

• An extremely tight site with very limited perimeter access for the construction of the façade of the building.
• Access through one small elevation only.
• Minimal storage onsite, just in time delivery where possible.
• Only one single staircase for access to 7 floors.
• A pitched roof installation carried out through an elaborate man safe system due to the use of mast climbers for the project.

Though no specific soft-landing approach was chosen, Torsion Group ensured that key staff remained with the FM team to ensure a smooth transition into an operable building. Helping with additional training and specialist support from the key members of the supply chain.

Sustainability

Vast material excavated onsite was crushed and reused on-site. Our comprehensive waste management plan meant that overall, we were able to divert 100% of site waste from landfill.

To keep the local community up to date on the scheme, we issued newsletters and regular updates via our social media platforms. Litter picking was carried out on a routine basis around the site to keep the surrounding area clean and tidy.
Close dialogue with the local council to manage environmental matters, parking and road closures with utility works. We also ensured that the site did not cause a nuisance to commuters or residents.

Site access was restricted in the surrounding residential area. We made every effort to reduce congestion and disruption to the local community. We encouraged the project team to travel together to the site, park considerately using local council car parks; adding benefit to the local economy, and where possible utilise public transport.

Though a segregated office and welfare compound was created, this gave sufficient space to operate, no parking on the site or in the surrounding area roads was allowed. All the supply chain was notified of this arrangement.

A sizeable percentage of materials and workforce required to deliver this scheme were procured locally, either directly or via sub-contractors, with 70% of the workforce based within a 20-mile radius. Our average workforce onsite varied between 40 and 55.

Through resource of local talent, Torsion Group employed six operatives through the main build period of the scheme. The supply chain used the development for the experience of 4 apprentices, two joinery and two electricians.