Refurbishment of Southampton University - Glen Eyre Campus Halls

Introduction

The University of Southampton's Old Terrace was once a row of 10 residential houses, later converted into a 100-bed student accommodation block. It is located within the Glen Eyre campus, the university's largest student community. After being decommissioned in previous years and scheduled for demolition, the block faced an unexpected revival when the university encountered a surge in student enrolment in 2023, necessitating additional accommodation by September. To address this need, the university decided to refurbish the Old Terrace block, ensuring it met modern standards and regulations.

Key Challenges

The tight timeframe was the most significant challenge, with the critical end date looming to accommodate the September intake. Our thorough pre-construction surveys and planning were instrumental in overcoming this challenge. Eight weeks before project completion, we discovered that the water main supply was inadequate for the new student accommodation. This unexpected issue required urgent action. By deploying our direct labour force, we swiftly addressed the problem, allowing us to meet the critical deadline.

Post-construction

Following project completion, we remained on site to ensure a smooth transition for university staff and students into their newly refurbished accommodation. Our commitment to post-construction support included providing guidance and assistance as needed, ensuring everyone was comfortable with the new facilities.

Pre-construction

AS Mechanical and Electrical Ltd. was engaged by the main contractor to deliver all mechanical services and plumbing works for the project. As part of the two-stage tender process, we participated in the second stage, which involved comprehensive surveys and investigations to understand the project's full scope. This stage was critical to identifying potential challenges and ensuring a robust schedule to meet the tight deadline.

Construction

The construction phase involved a comprehensive refurbishment of the block, with a focus on communal spaces, reconfiguration and replacement of communal kitchens, and reconfiguration of communal washrooms into self-contained pods containing shower, WC, and toilet. As the primary mechanical contractor, our scope included the installation of new boilers, recommissioning of heating systems, and complete plumbing work for all new facilities. We also played a crucial role in ensuring the successful installation of other M&E services.

Throughout the construction process, we maintained open communication with all parties on-site through daily meetings, emails, and phone conversations. Our team at AS Mechanical and Electrical Ltd. regularly liaised with local residents, university stakeholders, and students to ensure minimal disruption and to keep everyone informed of project progress.