1000 Bed Student Hall of Residence University of Durham

Working with Laing O’Rourke and GSS Architects, Scott White and Hookins provided the civil and structural design for the new £35.5 million building project for The University of Durham at Howlands
Farm Site, south of the city.

The project utilises ‘Tunnelform’, which is a fast track cellular construction method utilising heated shutters and high strength concrete. Formwork is removed by crane after only 24 hours and the process is
repeated floor by floor forming a strong monolithic construction.

Significant earthworks to re-contour the site to our design have been successfully completed, including a SUDS drainage system which utilises storage ditches, a weir, Hydrobrakes® and a flash pond to restrict site outflow to green field runoff levels.

To meet sensitive planning requirements, two ‘green roof’ social buildings were designed to merge into the remodelled contours of the Howlands site.