New Build Student Accommodation, Goswell Road, London, EC1

• Client: Investream
• Architect: 3W Architecture
• Market Sector: Residential
• Services: Building Control

This project involved new build student accommodation with significant site constraints on layout and the challenge was to realise maximum bedroom numbers, without compromising fire safety standards.

To meet this objective MLM worked closely with the design team and the fire brigade to agree the overall design as residential thus necessitating only a single stair core for means of escape purposes.

The building was built with a deep basement utilising contiguous piling capped by a ring beam. Project risk was increased by the adjacent building, also used for student accommodation, remaining occupied; hence MLM gave advice on a temporary means of escape arrangement for the occupied premises whilst the new premise was constructed.

Facilities such as bike parking, plant and refuse storage were discreetly worked into the scheme within the basement and side access. Pod construction was utilised for WC and shower facilities and MLM’s experience of a time saving back-to-back riser design, was employed by the team.