Students relax in one of the social spaces at The Meadows
University of Essex and Uliving are celebrating the official opening of The Meadows, a new student accommodation scheme at the Colchester Campus.
Uliving at Essex, is a consortium made up of Bouygues Development, housing provider Derwent Living and investment company Equitix. The scheme is part of the University’s commitment to providing high quality on-campus accommodation. As part of this investment Uliving will also manage the existing accommodation at University Quays for a 50 year period.
The new student complex situated off Boundary Road, provides an additional 648 student bedrooms for the Colchester Campus and is made up of 19 town houses for 228 students plus en suite cluster flats for a further 420 students. There is also a social pavilion housing a common room, a launderette and a ‘grab and go’ shop. The scheme, which includes a mix of concrete, steel and timber frames, was designed by architects Lewis & Hickey with construction carried out by Bouygues UK, beginning in early summer 2012.
An event to celebrate the formal opening of The Meadows was held in the central courtyard of the new development on Tuesday 24 September. The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by senior representatives from the University of Essex, Uliving, and Becky Fisher, President of the University of Essex Students’ Union.
University Registrar Bryn Morris said: “The Meadows is a superb example of what the University of Essex can achieve through partnership. This high-quality accommodation has been delivered on time and adds another dimension to our provision for students at our Colchester Campus.”
Outside The Meadows development
Nicolas Guerin, Managing Director of Uliving, said: “It is a great achievement for Uliving which has delivered these new units on time. We are proud to be the partner of choice for the University of Essex, and to be operating The Meadows for the next 50 years. The most important thing for us is that students love it and, together with Uliving, make this place a fantastic environment in which to live and work.”
Becky Fisher, President of the University of Essex Student’s Union, said: “We are really excited to see the University offer more students quality accommodation on campus. The Meadows look fantastic and are a great opportunity for our students to be part of an on-campus community that will have such a positive effect on their student experience.”
Pictures courtesy of Hufton & Crow