Friargate Student Accommodation, Preston
Overview
The transformation of the strategic, but run-down 1.5 acre site brings two new retail premises and the creation of a 244 bedroomed building aimed at providing boutique hotel-style accommodation to students at the nearby University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
At the height of the building project around 200 workers were employed on the Friargate development site
The aesthetically pleasing shop and apartment complex has been designed around open garden areas while being conveniently in the heart of the city, only a short walk from the University of Central Lancashire.
The development plan has been created by Manchester architecture practice Leach Rhodes Walker.
135 Work opportunity weeks created 
100% Waste recycled 
80.2% Local workforce 
40/50 Considerate Constructors score
Key Challenges
This site was situated in a very busy location on the main thoroughfare into Preston city centre. It was bound by live retail units and existing student accommodation with restricted access and a 5 metre difference in level from the front of the site to the back.
Its location on the main road proved problematic when connecting services, for example the drain survey was undertaken on a Sunday evening.
The building was a very complex design which was completed in short timescales for the size of the project.
Added Value
We also changed the original construction methods to achieve the programme set out by the client.
During the project we held numerous site tours with the local University, UCLan and local College, Prestons’ College, allowing the students to have a real site experience.
During November 2015 our tower crane was lit up purple for Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Purple Lights for Hope campaign.