T944 North Tower Refurbishment Consultant - Architect

Award outcome

Description

The University Towers were constructed more than 50 years ago. In this time, the six accommodation towers have served the University well, providing affordable student accommodation. Bertrand Russell and Eddington Tower have been refurbished and this now leaves the remaining four Towers (Rayleigh, Keynes, Tawney and William Morris) on the North side of campus. Although the original Towers are in reasonable structural condition, given their age (subject to structural survey) and only needing minor structural repairs, windows/curtain walling are 'life expired', regularly leaking in high winds and are not energy efficient. The roof is at the end of its design life and needs replacement with the addition of thermal insulation. Added to this, internal services are failing, and a major refurbishment is required to ensure the towers can be certified as 'safe to occupy' under the future Building Safety Act and to maintain the life of the asset and preserve it for future years. The tower blocks will become 'higher risk' buildings under the Building Safety Bill/Act due for Royal Assent in Spring 2022 imposing additional responsibilities upon 'duty holders' within the University. Work needs to begin as part of this project on preparing safety cases for all accommodation coming into the remit of the pending legislation.

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