A real team effort this one, so delighted RIBA have recognised the quality of this scheme. St Alban’s Place won the RIBA Yorkshire Award 2021 and the RIBA Yorkshire Building of the Year 2021

DFC work closely with VITA Group across their project portfolio, so when they conjured up a neat little site round the corner from our Leeds office, we were only too pleased to take on the challenge.

Iain led the design elements from inception through to approval, for this tall single stair student residential scheme. We were supporting Feilden Clegg Bradley, Curtins and Crookes Walker Consulting closely throughout the design process, working to deliver the client’s aspirations as led by VITA and Paragon representatives.

There were a number of challenges to overcome to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations, but notably the extended travel distances in common corridors, and associated CFD, together with the fire service access requirements really stand out. The open minded view of Ball and Berry was welcome, and a collaborative approach attained agreement in the long run.

Eoghan led the scheme once it was up and running on site, working with Kier to get all those niggly little details lined up with the fire strategy. There were a few complexities to revisit from the approved fire strategy necessitating all of our creative and adaptive skills.

Non-standard details included single skin board lining to corridors, acoustic build-ups at low level facing the bars and clubs at Cross Belgrave St, and a terracotta/curtain wall interface – all with a knock-on effect on fire stopping test certification – or lack of it!

Detailed review and close working relationships were the key to resolving the certification issues, with 3^rd Party desktop assessments brought in as needed for client and contractor certainty. Of course the current cladding requirements weren’t quite in play at that time, but the design was developed to meet and exceed those standards as driven by the client’s Brand Standards.

All in all a great scheme, challenging, but delivered with teamwork – and award worthy in our view too. (Hear Hear RIBA!). Fingers crossed for the national awards in September. Congratulations to the whole team.