Student accommodation social spaces
Notingham
Client
University Partnerships Programme Ltd (UPP)
Project Type
Refurbishment of open-plan social spaces in university students’ halls of residence
UPP is the UK’s leading provider of on-campus residential and academic accommodation. Here in Nottingham they provide a home away from home experience for thousands of students studying at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Nottingham (UoN).
Constellations first started working with UPP in 2021, to refurbish the open-plan social spaces in three of NTU’s halls of residence – Peverell on the Clifton Campus, Blenheim on the City Campus and Norton Court in Radford.
Students from NTU were invited to give their opinion on the refurbishment of each of the spaces, contributing to the design process on aspects such as aesthetics, function and layout.
Based on student feedback Constellations created zoned areas within the open-plan spaces.
Quiet areas were created for students to study, with sufficient charging points for laptops and plenty of comfortable seating; soft seating areas were installed for relaxation and down-time; and finally, flexible open spaces with plenty of surfaces for students to collaborate on projects.
UPP have since invited Constellations to create similar spaces for Broadgate Park at UoN, installing a mix of soft and hard furnishings in their open-plan communal space.
“We found the approach and designs of Constellations to be refreshing and innovative with the students at the heart of it, the designs went through rigorous testing with the student experience team.
“The project was delivered successfully through close collaboration and working between Constellations and our UPP teams to ensure it was ready for use by arriving students. The feedback received to date from the University, site based colleagues and students has been positive and we are embarking on the next phase of external areas which we hope will be equally as successful.”
Jide Ogunniyi
UPP Asset Management Director
“It’s a great place to socialise and do work as a group as well as being very accessible and a nice atmosphere to relax and chill with friends.”
George Lee, student