Acorn Aluminium has been appointed to deliver the curtain walling elements of a high-profile purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in the centre of Birmingham.
The new Vita Student Gough Street development by McAleer & Rushe (MRP), will deliver 540 studio apartments along with private dining rooms, a gym, a hub space and outdoor terrace.
The building on the junction between the city’s Gough Street and Suffolk Street is designed to be sustainable, meeting BREAAM ‘Very Good’.
Car-free travel will also be championed with Vita Student’s free resident bike hire and the site’s proximity to rail, bus and tram links.
Curtain walling forms a key element of the ‘zig-zag’ detailing on the building. Acorn has been appointed by MRP to deliver 3500m2 of curtain walling made up of 186 individual strips.
These are being manufactured in the Metal Technology System 17, with inset windows manufactured in Metal Technology 4-35Hi and 10-35 doors.
These are fabricated to achieve an ultra-low 1.3W/m2K U-value. The specification also includes a 36db acoustic rating.
Paul Stevens, Managing Director, Acorn Aluminium, said: “We’re delighted to partner with McAleer & Rushe on this exceptionally high-profile Birmingham City Centre scheme.
“We have a growing expertise in the PBSA sector, developing specifications that maximise value for customers without compromising through-life performance.
“This includes established processes for working in the complex and often constrained city centre development sites.
“We’ve worked in partnership with main contractors to deliver effective acoustic specifications as well as to overcome challenges connected to location through just-in-time delivery and increased stock holding ahead of time in our warehousing facility.”
Also supplying and installing louvres to the spandrel area featuring bespoke ‘letterbox’ ventilation, plus Corten aluminium perforated panelling in a Scorched Earth finish.
Curtain walling doors and inset windows are being manufactured in RAL9005 black
The project also includes the installation of FS firestop and acoustic insulation between each floor level.
Unusually, installation is two-floors at a time, following the construct of the building as Paul explained:
“We have to complete two floors at a time, following the build of storeys of the building. In reality to achieve this we’re having to effectively manufacture ‘three floors’ at a time to provide the connections between storeys including spandrel and louvred sections, so its an involved and a more unusual installation”, he said.
The Vita Gough Street represents an important site for the Birmingham, helping accommodate Birmingham’s growing student population which has grown by 22% in the last five academic years.
This number is above the UK average student population growth in major cities – which saw growth of 16% in the same period.
Metal Technology System 17 High Rise Curtain Waling at a glance:
- Suitable for multi-storey and roof glazing applications
- Thermally broken to achieve u-values of as low as 0.87 W/m2K
- Accepts glazing units from 4mm to 55mm
- Impact tested to BS EN 12600 50kg
- Security BS 7950 tested
- Through profile and mullion drainage
- Weather tested to CWCT sequence B: Air 600Pa; Water 600PA; Wind 2400Pa; Dynamic water penetration (aero engine), 600Pa; Dynamic water penetration (Fan) BS EN 13050, 900Pa; Hose pipe test 22l/m @ 220Pa.
- Anodised to BS EN 12373-1 or Polyester powder coated to BS EN12206-: Part 1
- Green Guide A Rated
Metal Technology Hi+ tilt-and-turn at a glance:
- Multi chamber 50mm system
- Top and side hung casement options
- Inward opening tilt-and-turn
- Uses Therm-al polyamide thermal isolators, thermal gaskets and cellular foams to deliver maximum thermal performance
- Accepts units of up to 34mm in depth depending on weight
- Achieves a BFRC B Rating
- U-values as low as 1.25W/m2K
- Weather tested to BS6375 Part 1: Air Class 4; Water Class E900 (casement) and E750 (tilt-turn); Wind resistance E2400
- Anodised to BS EN 12373-1 or Polyester powder coated to BS EN12206-: Part 1
- Single and dual colour options
- Green Guide A Rated
- Enhanced security PAS24 tested
“This is a very high-profile project and will ultimately join our growing list of successful PBSA schemes, including Vita Nottingham, which we supported in 2020 for Morgan Sindall”, Paul added.
“In our experience it’s about balancing distinct requirements for advanced acoustic and thermal performance with the requirement for cost-effective delivery.
“With a highly flexible approach and extensive expertise, we’ve developed a product specification and delivery model that maximises both.”
The project is due for completion in Summer 2026 to coincide with the start of the academic year, operated, and managed by the Vita Group.
Aa a student accommodation provider with sites across the UK and Europe, Vita Student already operates a site in Birmingham – the former BBC Pebble Mill site that opened in 2019.
For more about Acorn Aluminium please call 0115 928 2166, email [email protected] or visit www.acornalumnium.com