UCLan Preston

A new Student Centre and University Squares project that has recently been shortlisted for a Construction News award. The 9504m2 high-spec student centre with roof terracing and an extensive public square was built during the height of the challenges faced by Covid-19 and includes the longest single span continuous curtain wall system in Europe.  With an impressive glass interior and large open plan granite paved public area it is particularly impressive at night when the computer controlled built in lighting to the granite paved square illuminates the impressive façade

QED Construction commenced reduce level excavation of the site in July 2019 and then installed the pile cap foundations, contiguous piled wall faced with waterproofing membrane and insitu concrete facing to form a dual system waterproof system designed by Xypex Chemical Corporation in conjunction with Cetco Ltd . 

The ground floor slabs and upstands were also cast using waterproof concrete and two lift pits were formed.  The drainage system incorporated a 700 cubic metre attenuation tank and a 100000-litre rainwater harvesting tank.  QED installed more than 7000m2 of Chinese Granite Paving incorporating 550 number recessed lights, 100 number static and removable bollards along with 640 linear metres of granite planter walling.

Uclan later awarded Bowmer and Kirkland (that was also undertaken by QED), a contract to install a further 2500m2 of granite paving to form a public realm area to the centre of the university.