Luton Prototype Brings Out the Smiles

Representatives from Lanos (Luton) Ltd and GolDev Ltd, Elements Europe’s clients for the Luton Student Accommodation Scheme, have visited the factory today to view the student Studio Room Pod prototype. Tailored to the client’s requirements, the Pod was happily signed off by GolDev representatives allowing the manufacturing process to begin.

The Room Pod is the first of 199 Room Pods being manufactured for the site, featuring an en-suite bathroom, kitchen area and large window allowing plenty of natural light into the space. The scheme will also feature en-suite cluster Room Pods, to be arranged with communal kitchen Pods and Studio Room Pods.

Now that the prototype has been approved, manufacturing will begin and will be complete in 11 weeks with the first modules due on-site early May 2014. This fast and effective off-site construction system ensures that the building will be ready in time for the September 2014 student intake.

Nigel Stockton, Production Manager at Elements Europe commented “We manufactured this prototype in just five days, our clients GolDev and Lanos (Luton) Ltd were over the moon with the results and have now signed off the Room Pod for full production, the 199 Room Pods will start arriving on-site in Luton in just five weeks time.

199 Student Room Pods for Luton Student Accommodation Scheme

Elements Europe has been contracted to manufacture 199 student Room Pods to a brand new student accommodation scheme on Oxford Road in Luton, being developed by Goldev.

The 199 student Room Pods consist of en-suite cluster bedrooms with cluster kitchen alongside Studio Room Pods, offering students the privacy of a self-contained room with open plan sleeping, studying and kitchen area incorporating an en-suite bathroom.

Elements Europe will manufacture the Room Pods in just 11 weeks with on-site delivery commencing early May 2014.  The project will be completed for the September 2014 student intake.

The development is in an ideal location for students attending the University of Bedfordshire with a short walk to campus. The accommodation is being designed by Maber Architects and will be operated by CRM Ltd, the largest independent student accommodation company, managing over 19,000 beds across the UK.

Sales Director of Elements Europe, Kevin Arthur commented “We are very pleased to have been selected as Room Pod supplier for this project. The client has recognised that given the timescale for opening their student facility, an off-site system is the only way of achieving their programme of a September 2014 intake.”

Off-Site Modular Construction at its Best!

The Colchester student accommodation scheme is demonstrating off-site modular construction at its best as student Room Pods are being lowered into position at a rate of 8-10 per day.

The Pods are being delivered to the site on King Edwards Quay on a strict schedule that sees them arrive just-in-time and in the correct order to be lifted and positioned in the building.

These strict deadlines are made easier by the development being delivered as a turnkey solution by The Pickstock Group, ensuring a full project management that benefits from open lines of communication between the traditional construction programme and the off-site manufacturing timeline.

The end of March will see the start of work on the envelope of the building when bricklayers commence the external walls. Another benefit to off-site modular construction is that it allows other trades to start their work while installation of the Pods continues. Trades can start electrical and mechanical works two floors behind installation making for a fluid and efficient build.

“Colchester is yet another example of how well modular construction is suited to student accommodation, after having started on-site at the end of 2013 we will be ready to house students in 381 rooms in time for the September 2014 intake.” Commented Kate Pickstock, Development Surveyor for the site.

“Using JR Pickstock Ltd’s expertise in traditional construction and combining them with Elements Europe’s modular technology leads to a seamless integration and enables The Pickstock Group to deliver successful turnkey solutions in a time frame which would simply not be possible using traditional construction methods alone.” Kate added.

ID4 Prototype Gets the Thumbs Up

Elements Europe has welcomed their client Bowmer and Kirkland to the Elements Europe factory to showcase the Premier Inn ID4 Bathroom Pod prototype. The prototype has been manufactured specifically for Premier Inn Yeovil and now signed off, manufacturing has commenced on the full order.

The ID4 is the newest Premier Inn bathroom design. The large purple landscape tiles, silver grey grout and other smaller adaptions enhances the look and feel of the bathroom, therefore enhancing the customer’s experience of the Premier Inn brand.

Bowmer and Kirkland will act as the main contractor on this 80 room Premier Inn and will take advantage of a quick and efficient construction programme by using Elements Europe’s off-site construction capabilities. The Pods will be delivered to site to the strict schedule that has been set by the main contractor and Pods will be installed over a 4 week period.

It is not the first time Elements Europe has worked with Bowmer and Kirkland, they also supplied Bathroom Pods to them for Premier Inn Wandsworth and Premier Inn Croydon.

Andy Jones, Managing Director of Elements Europe commented “We are really pleased to be working alongside Bowmer and Kirkland again, it is testament to our product and service here at Elements Europe that this is the third time we will supply for this contractor and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”