Tide’s volumetric approach helped to add an extra floor – and 50% more student bedrooms – without changing the consented height of this key regeneration project.
Chapter Lewisham provides 611 student bedrooms and ground-level commercial space in two 11-storey blocks. It was originally designed traditionally but the decision to use volumetric construction enabled Tide to reconfigure the building layout, adding a floor without altering the consented building height.
Part of the wider Lewisham town centre regeneration masterplan, the development occupies a long, narrow site with a railway line on one side and a major road on the other. The clever design overcomes these constraints, setting back the lower floors behind a double-height colonnade to widen the streetscape. A landscaped terrace has also been integrated between the two blocks, above the entrance to the communal student areas.
The 636 volumetric units that form the buildings were installed in just three months, and site work was completed in 11 months helping to bring forward rental income. Chapter Lewisham has been a highly successful development, and was fully occupied just months after its completion. It has won a number of awards, including Best Use of Volumetric Technology at the Offsite Awards and the Residential RICS Award in 2017.
Volumetric efficiencies can reduce the depth of floor build-ups by as much as 250mm. When building at height, this provides the possibility of adding storeys within the overall massing without compromising floor-to-ceiling height. By adding an extra floor at Chapter, we were able to increase student bed spaces by 50% from the original planning application.
This is a fine example of how off-site modular construction can deliver a high-quality development. The carefully considered design and innovative construction methods have enhanced the success of the project with speed of delivery, consistency of finish and reduction of site waste.
