Projects
Build to Rent, Commercial, Education
North West Cambridge Development
The North West Cambridge Development is the largest single capital project that the University of Cambridge has undertaken in its 800-year history.
To address the predicted growth of around 5,000 students and 3,000 staff over the next 25 years and provide affordable accommodation – the masterplan includes 3,000 homes, 2,000 post-graduate student spaces, 100,000 m2 of research space, a local centre and community facilities. The University of Cambridge is turning 150 hectares of what was flat, inaccessible and somewhat featureless farmland, located between the city and the M11, into a billion-pound urban district the area of which is not much smaller than the historic centre of Cambridge itself.
The University of Cambridge awarded its largest value construction package for the first phase to BAM Construction.
Worth approximately £80million, the BAM contract includes significant areas of the new local centre, 352 homes for key workers, as well as retail units, a doctor’s surgery and the shell of the energy centre to be built to BREEAM Excellent standard.
The final contract for the first phase, valued at £75million, was assigned to Wates Construction. The contract includes the construction of 264 apartments for key workers and local shop units that have been designed by RIBA Stirling Prize winners, Stanton Williams Architects.
Key Data
Architect:
Mecanoo Architects & Stanton Williams
Client:
University of Cambridge
Engineer:
AECOM
Main Contractor:
BAM & Wates
Installer/EOS Client:
SCL
Steel Framing System Supplier:
EOS
Materials / Type of System:
Stud & Track
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
EOS were appointed to provide the company’s specialist offsite manufactured SFS Facade System which was installed by SCL for phases one, two and three of this prestigious development – a contract value of over £500,000 – encompassing residential and commercial buildings.
“We have worked with EOS on a number of projects,” said Neil Scott of SCL. “They consistently deliver a high level of service and their attention to detail, made them the obvious choice for a development as high profile as North West Cambridge.”
To form the external envelope for the decorative facades finishes, fully engineered SFS infill walling solutions have been specifically designed by EOS for the re-enforced concrete frame. To design and develop the SFS facade solutions for each of the individual buildings, EOS formed strategic alliances with two of the architectural firms working on the project – Mecanoo Architect from Netherlands who partnered with BAM and Stanton Williams who partnered with Wates.
OUTCOMES
The vision for the North West Cambridge Development was to create a new district within the City, which encapsulates an eclectic mix of both commercial, academic facilities and urban residences – enhancing educational provision and quality of life for the University and ultimately, the City.
In a statement the Cambridge University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope said: “At North West Cambridge we are determined to create a successful, sustainable, mixed-use community as an extension of the City, with buildings and public space of high quality design. We appreciate the many contributions that have been made to help us achieve this and we look forward to continuing to work with everyone to deliver our vision.”