Mason Hall, University of Birmingham

Project Brief

The former Mason accommodation in the city’s leafy Edgbaston district has been demolished and a new development has been built in its place to house more than 800 students. Mason has been designed to provide high quality contemporary students residencies of varying storey heights. The development is fully sympathetic to the existing registered landscape, enchasing and complimenting existing views, retaining the concept of the backdrop, whilst providing containment and allowing glimpses to and from the lake.

Bell & Webster's Solution

Bell & Webster were awarded the contract for its “Fastbuild Rooms” precast concrete panel system, the layout of each flat consists of three study/bedrooms on each side of a corridor, opening out to a full width kitchen/dining area. Bell & Webster’s panels are used for the party walls between each study/bedroom and for the external “window” walls. Internal doors are added later. Floor slabs span through these walls, rather than the external panels. The panels are cast horizontally on tilting tables so no stress is put into them during manufacture, they are then transported to the site and lifted directly from the lorry into position. During seven months spent on site Bell & Webster erected 2,847 individual units, with 10 different types of window walls, 3 different gable wall designs and 4 internal party walls and also, 22 different floor slabs. Bell & Webster has designed a special lifting beam that enables these panels to be lifted straight up, rather than using chains that meet an apex in the centre.

Benefits

• Fair faced finish to walls and ceiling minimised the need for dry lining or suspended ceilings and wet trades
• Conduit cast into slabs not walls
• Good acoustic rating
• Speed of construction
• Following trades can commence on the lower floors as the upper floors are being erected
• Toilet pods installed as frame erected
• Safe Access at all times
• Designed to avoid progressive collapse

University of Birmingham / Reference: G6775-G6776
Mason Hall, The Vale, Edgbaston Park Road
Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2RQ