Hive is now on site at St Edmund Hall, the £35m, 127-bed Passivhaus student accommodation in Oxford, delivering an energy-optimised scheme for Dowds Group and marking a step forward in its expansion within the education sector.
Working with its partners, Dowds Group, SDC Builders Ltd, Wight & Wright Architects and Price & Myers, Hive have completed the stage 4ii design, Stage 5 installation drawings and a sustainable framework throughout the development.
The team has already progressed the project from Stage 4i to Stage 5, assuming technical and sustainable design responsibility, refining spatial coordination and providing additional value engineering to increase cost efficiencies. MEP first fix has now commenced on site.
The student accommodation will be distributed across four buildings, comprising three newly constructed CLT superstructure buildings and the refurbishment of a Grade II listed Victorian Villa. Hive has developed the new blocks to Passivhaus standards, integrating centralised air source heat pumps serving multiple buildings, CO2 Heat pumps, water to water heat pumps and bi-solar green roofs. The Grade II listed building will be refurbished utilising EnerPHit principles to ensure compliance with current UK part L standard, with thermal envelope improvements and energy efficient plant.
The scheme offers an opportunity for Hive to demonstrate its commitment to implementing environmentally responsive solutions that meet Passivhaus compliance standards.
Hive Belfast is leading the project with support from the wider group. The precision applied to the builders work openings was a key element to enable pre-fabrication of the CLT superstructure. The team’s capability in precision-engineered prefab solutions that prioritise design accuracy and efficiency, combined with its Passivhaus expertise, was integral to its appointment earlier in the year.
Aaron McCarthy, Director, said: “This project reflects our integrated approach, design precision, and commitment to sustainable construction. We made strategic modifications to an inherited design, enhancing it through spatial adjustments and budget-focused value engineering, keeping the project aligned with the client’s objectives while meeting Passivhaus standards for the new construction. The client’s ambitions to create energy-efficient accommodation for students align with our own commitment to future-proofing important assets for our clients.”
All images credited to Wright & Wright Architects
