Kingspan Steel Building Solutions’ KingBuild System (KBS) has been used to provide a complete building structure and shell solution for Blenheim Point.

Once completed, the building will offer 180 students a high standard of student living, addressing the need for purpose-built accommodation close to both Leeds city centre and the University of Leeds.

Spanning 58,000ft2, the contemporary seven-storey building promotes a sense of community both aesthetically and functionally. The unique stepped-back design contains 29 cluster flats with large shared kitchen and living spaces, in addition to a range of communal facilities including a reception area, study rooms, games area and a common room.

Kingspan Steel Building Solutions was selected to design, engineer, manufacture, supply and finally install their KingBuild System (KBS), enabling the external structure to go up in just 18 weeks.

The panelised system allowed a rapid, predictable assembly of the seven storeys, providing a weathertight envelope that could be worked on internally even as the external finishes were being applied. As well as being efficient to install, the dry construction method achieves near-zero shrinkage and provides almost zero settlement in the frame. Pre-punched holes for services into joists and studs also helped reduce subsequent fit-out time. The predictability of this approach reduced costs by saving on labour time.

The Kingspan team also designed, supplied and installed the Multideck galvanised steel floor decking system, with a 60mm profile, with a concrete pour to each intermediate floor. The pre-cast concrete stair flights to the main core and lift shaft walls were also supplied and installed by Kingspan.

The use of steel also reduced the environmental impact of the project: the light gauge steel offers high strength to weight ratio and therefore reduces material usage over traditional materials, minimising the carbon footprint and providing structural efficiency. Light steel joists and walls offer A and A+ ratings respectively in these areas in the BRE Green Guide (2007).

The steel sections are made from high recycled content and are 100% recyclable, reducing waste produced by the overall project. Furthermore, the high-performance insulation used on the external walls is Zero Ozone Depletion Potential, has a low Global Warming Potential of 3 and is certified as ‘Excellent’ under BES 6001.