Cowlin, a Balfour Beatty brand, has been appointed by Cardiff University for a new £6.4 million design and build project.
The six-storey, 179-bedroom student accommodation development at Cardiff University’s Talybont Halls of Residence complex will be known as Talybont Gate.
This latest success reinforces Balfour Beatty’s presence as a leading construction partner in the student accommodation sector.
Talybont Gate will offer 177 standard and two accessible bedrooms. A total of 27 clusters containing six, seven, and ten bedrooms will be developed over the six storeys. Each cluster will have a shared kitchen with full cooking facilities along with dining and lounge areas for the residents.
The development will be constructed using a reinforced concrete frame, with traditional brick outer walls as well as a mixture of timber and zinc cladding. Architectural curtain walling systems will break up the outer elevations giving the building a crisp and modern look.
Sustainability will be a key aspect of the project and the scheme is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Sustainable features will include a rainwater harvesting system and solar photovoltaic panels situated on the roof.
The rainwater harvesting will provide “grey” water to the toilets on the 4th Floor. The photovoltaic panels will provide power to the building whilst the students are in residence as well as feeding back into the utility grid at all other times.
The use of renewable energy will also reduce the University’s carbon footprint assisting with their Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Construction work commenced last month and will complete in summer 2014 in time for the new academic year.