The former site of Images Nightclub in Worcester has been transformed into 83 student flats, with Intrastack supplying the steel-frame structure and the installation being undertaken by installer, Intastruct, on behalf of the main developer, Spec Projects.
Intrastack, part of the Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions division, manufactured and delivered the light gauge steel frame (LGSF) system which saw three installers erect the seven-storey student accommodation block in just 10 weeks. A recent report considered there to be a lack of purpose-built accommodation (PBSA) in Worcester, with the existing stock made up mainly of conversions, houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and existing halls. With these low levels of vacant PBSA facilities in the city, the Images project aimed to provide modern rooms for the student population.
With over 10,000 students at the University of Worcester, local plans to increase PBSA aim to reduce pressure on the on-street rental market to free up accommodation for families. Meanwhile, meeting the specific needs of students with purpose-built and managed schemes makes the city an attractive prospect to future learners.
The old Images nightclub site, demolished late in 2021, now houses the new seven-storey accommodation. The building comprises five self-supporting storeys of light gauge steel frame panels atop a two-storey concrete base. The speed of construction was noticeable to onlookers, as the work took place over just 10 weeks – a reduction from the originally scheduled 12 weeks – and was noted as one of the reasons for the developers choosing GSF
for the project in the first place. The system also required fewer installers on-site at any given time, with most of the work completed by a team of three.
Rapid turnaround of design and materials, as well as the speed of installation and safety benefits, were also indicated as reasons for going with offsite steel frame manufacture. Capitalising on LGSF's shorter construction times can provide developers with a quicker return on investment, as students are able to move in sooner than they would be able to with a traditional build.
The build site, which was first used over 150 years ago, is very restricted with limited space available for storage of the steel panels needed for the construction. Intrastack scheduled and delivered the panels to the site on a 'just-in-time' basis, working with the installer to ensure materials were on site as and when they were needed. This also reduced the waste on-site at any given time, with all system elements arriving cut to size.
Andy Higson, Business Director at Intrastack, said: "This year, PBSA in the UK has surpassed 30,000 rooms for the first time, showing that there's demand for this type of housing. An offsite approach is essential to deliver on the scale required. LGSF systems can help developers to build accommodation faster while tackling on-site challenges such as safety risks and labour shortages. When you discover how much smoother it makes the process, it becomes a no-brainer."
Paul Hazelwood, Contracts Manager at Intastruct, the system installers, added: "There's no doubt that the steel frame system sped up the job, and allowed us to comfortably build a storey every two weeks. It's a fast system, and incredibly robust."
Source: www.intrastack.co.uk
Read the full story, go to Offsite Magazine
