The new build St George’s Quay student accommodation is part of the Luneside East Regeneration Project in Lancaster, which will create a new quarter of the city with a mix of housing, commercial space, high quality open spaces and walking and cycling routes.
In a prominent waterfront setting on the edge of the River Lune and built on the site of the former St George’s Mill, the St George’s Quay development comprises four student accommodation blocks, ranging from three to six storeys, delivering 431 bedrooms in clusters and studio apartments.
The buildings are modelled around the existing industrial architecture of the site, using a mix of materials, including brickwork that reflects the local vernacular and corten steel cladding to emphasise the site’s industrial history.
design strategy for the development was to create a series of stand-alone structures within a landscaped parkland. The buildings themselves are modelled around the existing industrial architecture of the site using a mix of materials, including brickwork that ties in with the local vernacular and corten steel cladding, emphasising the industrial history of the site. The parkland areas offer a mix of soft and hard surfacing including a range of tree specimens and opportunities for the activities within the buildings to spill out into the surrounding space, as well as creating connectivity to neighbouring uses and making a feature of the historic stone material that has been used to sculpt seating and artwork.
In addition to the 431 bedrooms, the development also provides a gym, games room, communal dining, study area, gardens and on-site parking.The development aims to be a landmark in urban regeneration and high quality design and be an exemplar of sustainable developments.
Simon Jones at LBT Brick and Facade assisting Rachael Oldroyd at Just H architects' to come up with the specification o the project. The brick selected for the scheme is Belgravia Gault Blend, a buff, thrown brick from Forterra’s Ecostock range. It has a rustic finish that resembles a handmade brick. Eco stock bricks are manufactured using the latest technology in sustainability and production efficiency, producing bricks with low embodied energy as well as advanced colour consistency, dimensional accuracy and quality.
