GRAHAM has started construction on Belfast’s first-ever Passivhaus-certified PBSA scheme on Dublin Road on behalf of Queen’s University Belfast.
The £46m development of 459 high-quality student bedrooms will set a new standard for sustainable student living in Northern Ireland.
The building will consist of a concrete frame with brick and glazed facades and will incorporate mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) units and high-efficiency air source heat pumps.
Spread over 16 storeys, the PBSA scheme will feature a mix of cluster apartments and studio units. Amenities include meeting rooms, communal and social spaces, group dining areas, a post room, laundry and dedicated staff office and welfare facilities.
A Passivhaus is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building’s carbon footprint. Conforming to these standards results in ultra-low energy buildings that require less energy for space heating or cooling.
There is a growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient construction and Passivhaus is one of the most exacting global standards. The Dublin Road PBSA development will be the first ultra-low emission multi-occupancy building in Belfast city centre.
“Queen’s University has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing a high-quality, energy efficient development and as a business which prioritises sustainable practices, we are pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor.”
Gary Holmes, Managing Director of Building North region, GRAHAM
GRAHAM has established a strong track record of constructing high-quality student accommodation in Belfast, having delivered the city’s most significant PBSA development this year at Nelson Street.
The BREEAM ‘very good’ development recently won a Green Apple Award for sustainability due, in part, to the installation of the first two blue roofs in Northern Ireland.
