Munro worked with main contractor SDC Construction on this design and build, student accommodation building for Newnham College. This women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge is updating its student living accommodation by building a contemporary hub aptly named after the first ever woman professor Dorothy Garrod.
The building will comprise of 100 en-suite student rooms, communal kitchens, bathrooms, social spaces, Porter’s Lodge, café, conference facilities and office/supervision rooms.
The focus for the college’s Student Accommodation Revolution has been on providing high end facilities which maximise space and comfort whilst also providing efficient services. Our eco-friendly solution has included photovoltaics on the roof, absence detection on mechanical and electrical installations and natural ventilation. Low profile heating in the skirting boards combined with underfloor heating in communal areas allows for maximum use of wall and floor space.
Munro’s early involvement has been integral in developing solutions to the challenges faced as the project has progressed. Underfloor heating could not be installed across uneven surfaces where old met new, so with Munro’s early intervention and assistance a solution could be found to install two separate synchronized systems that are centrally controlled, this helped prevent any delays in the programme and incur additional costs.
Meanwhile, after various lighting schemes and changes, the electrical team’s ability to be flexible and work closely with lighting designer Nulty Design to ensure a high-quality project, with specific lighting designs that compliment the surrounding historic architecture alongside the contemporary, elegant new build.
This £4m M&E project is not just a project but an investment in the future of our city and our student’s. This put longevity and life cycle at the heart of our installation at Newnham College where we took extra care to select plant that can be easily accessed, maintained and broken down to ease part replacement via the lift into the basement plant room. With planned preventive maintenance as part of our ‘complete solution,’ this is just another way Munro provide engineering value.