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Image of the Morgan Sindall Construction team and stakeholders involved in the Arts University Bournemouth project

Morgan Sindall Construction tops out at AUB's student halls

News |

Morgan Sindall Construction has celebrated topping-out at a new £24 million accommodation development for Arts University Bournemouth at its award-winning campus in Poole.

The accommodation project, which will house more than 300 students, continues a long-standing partnership between Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) and Morgan Sindall Construction, who have been responsible for AUB’s Drawing Studio, Student Services and Photography Building, which all form part of redevelopment works at the university’s Wallisdown campus.

Jon Daines, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, opened the ceremony alongside AUB representatives including vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Stuart Bartholomew, and Chris Martin, AUB’s chair of governors. The occasion was marked with the signing of a steel parapet to celebrate work reaching the highest point in the building’s structure.

Set across three student blocks which fully complement the university’s campus aesthetic, the three and four storey structures will feature eight-bed clusters with communal kitchens, dining areas, and a landscaped courtyard, with more than 100 trees being planted to maintain a green and natural environment for students, visitors and local residents.

The development will also hold a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ environmental rating, which reflects AUB’s commitment to promote sustainability and enhanced student living, achieving greater thermal efficiency via construction, and greater energy efficiency via the building’s roof-mounted solar panels.

With pedestrian-focused design at its core, residents will benefit from the halls’ immediate access to the university’s teaching areas and facilities, with upgrades made to pedestrian and cycle routes adjacent to the campus itself to encourage sustainable living. The project will also create 20 new jobs in the area, using a locally-recruited supply chain and creating work experience positions staffed by local colleges and apprentices.

Speaking about the scheme, Nick Welch, chief operating officer at Arts University Bournemouth, commented: “This project continues to add to Arts University Bournemouth’s state-of-the-art campus and we are delighted to be once again working with Morgan Sindall Construction.
“The AUB campus is where our students experiment, innovate and push boundaries and work with industry-standard technology and spaces to equip them for life in the creative industries. With this project, we hope to provide accommodation for our students where they can thrive, whilst continuing to provide a creative hub designed for specialists.”

The project was secured via the Southern Construction Framework. SCF is a collaboration between Devon and Hampshire County Councils that offers public sector organisations throughout London, the South East and the South West support with construction procurement.

  • For more information about this news release please contact Steph Bocking at Influential on 0151 239 5000 or email [email protected].