Nelson Place Student Accommodation, Belfast

Nelson Place is a state-of-the-art purpose build student accommodation in Belfast, providing 774 bedrooms over 12 storeys. The development was built by GRAHAM on behalf of Lacuna Developments and handed over to Student Roost in June 2024 ahead of schedule. Clad in brick, the façade is modern, stylish and is a welcome addition to this busy city. The £48m project is one of the largest student accommodation complexes in Belfast and is fitted out to an exceptional standard of interior design. Students benefit from many tastefully decorated social spaces and on-site sporting facilities including a four-court multipurpose indoor sport and games hall, rooftop running track, wellness room, VR sports room, physiotherapy suite, social areas, a café and a gym. The sports hall is open to the public, inviting the local community to enjoy the facilities and integrate with the students.

Located on an urban brownfield site, Nelson Place was formed using a reinforced concrete frame structure, including a mix of brick, metal cladding and glass which wraps around Nelson Street onto Great George Street. Red multi brick was retained as a reference to Belfast’s industrial and Victorian heritage.

Sustainability was key with the development achieving BREEAM Very Good and EPC ‘A’ rating. Air Source Heat Pumps mitigated the use of fossil fuels as hot water is generated by renewable energy. Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) maintains comfort levels, limiting peak energy demand during winter months. MVHR limits penetrations therefore improving envelope air tightness and overall efficiency.

Two blue roofs (the first in Northern Ireland) and a living green roof were incorporated into the design. Instead of large attenuation takes, the blue roofs allow surface water runoff to be captured and attenuated at source, then discharged into the drainage network at a restricted rate.  These sustainability features earned the development a GOLD Green Apple Environment Award for Climate Change Benefits.

The decision during construction to incorporate a central recreational centre for the sports facilities required careful design development and coordination of the fire strategy, access and egress and incoming services. GRAHAM worked closely with the consultancy team and end user to lead and manage this process.

The end result is a vibrant safe space for residents and the local community to enjoy in one of the most stylish PBSA developments created, which was delivered ahead of schedule and to a satisfied client.