Sited in Norham Gardens, Oxford, this 4,600m2 development will offer 127 study bedrooms and communal facilities spread across 3 new Passivhaus CLT Buildings, and one refurbishment.

In addition to views of Oxford University parks, students can enjoy the 5 biodiverse gardens and ecology pond. This development is the embodiment of the College’s bold strategy to create the next generation of sustainable buildings, sympathetic to the environment and the needs of the students.

The Passivhaus and CLT construction has presented the team with some unique challenges. Plant & Equipment selection must be made (in many cases) from the Passivhaus Component database, which is quite limited in the UK. A large portion of the design work had to be completed early, to allow CLT manufacture to begin, effectively “locking in” our design. Agreeing on typical installation details with the fire-stopping specialist & CLT manufacturer has been critical in ensuring we meet our key dates.

The site itself is compact and sits amongst sensitive residential and college buildings. Noise, Traffic management and site storage pose quite a challenge, and these must all be considered in our design and procurement.