St Marks Student Residences, University of Leeds

Leeds St Marks is a 529 bedroom student residential development for the University of Leeds completed in 2013. The building was delivered post tender by GWP Architecture to achieve the highest sustainability standards within a strict economic criteria.

Constructed utilising offsite an prefabricated panelised timber frame system. The manufacturing process, materials and insulation used provides an efficient envelope whilst close attention to design detail and understanding of construction techniques ensured the buildings’ air tightness which significantly reduced the buildings’ base energy loads. Prefabricated shower & toilet pods were also used as part of the efficient construction process.

The building achieved a BREEAM rating at design stage of 78.86% ‘Excellent’. To achieve this, sustainability was a fundamental part of the schemes design, with a highly insulated fully PEFC responsibly sourced panelised timber frame solution responsible for the main structure. Biodiversity was also key to the scheme, with an extensive green roof system utilised on the pavilion building and the incorporation of bat and bird boxes integral to the buildings facade. Through the use of a gas fired combined heat and power (‘CHP’) power source, the scheme was able to reduce its carbon emissions by over 15% leading to EPC ‘A’ ratings being achieved throughout the site.