University of York Residences York, UK
Sheppard Robson has designed a major new student residential development for the University of York, with the project designed to create a serene, waterside location whilst forming a new gateway into the campus.
For client University of York and Equitix and a team led by Graham Construction, the project will add 1,480 student dwellings set within two residential colleges.
Student welfare is paramount, with the design focused on harnessing the benefits of the project’s natural setting. The project has been broken down into 18 blocks that step down from four to three storeys as you get closer to the waterfront, helping frame views of the lake and also embedding the project within the landscape.
Located at the ground level are two social hubs – one for each college – that form that “front doors” into the accommodation. These social spaces have been designed to spark interaction between students and create a social and energetic feel. The residential buildings are animated by positioning social spaces on the corner of each block to add vibrancy to the route through the series of outdoor spaces.
The strong, simple forms of the blocks, characterised by robust pre-cast concrete and brick, have been designed to be a modern interpretation of the character of the university’s 1960s campus. The simple forms have been shaped to create a series of internal courtyards with a series of covered walkways, a feature of the 60s campus which brings the elements of the project together.
- Client
-
- GRAHAM
- Size
- 40,000 m2
- Completion
- 2022
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