Light gauge structural steel specialist, voestalpine Metsec plc, has supported the renovation of Portland House – a 1960’s concrete framed building – as part of a £17m luxury student accommodation scheme for developer Select Property Group under its Vita Student brand, an experience led accommodation provider that places as much emphasis on customer service as it does offering stylish accommodation.
Located within the heart of Exeter’s city centre, Portland House, originally a four-storey structure, has been converted into seven-storey student accommodation, totalling 161 high-end flats with the use of Metsec’s load bearing steel frame structure (SFS) system. Create Construction converted the building on the site of Exeter’s former Theatre Royal, and the newly created flats sit proudly on top of a retail unit and cafe.
Metsec’s load bearing SFS system, which was installed by approved sub-contractor Mansell Finishes, enabled three additional storeys to be added to the original concrete building without impacting the structure due to its lightweight design. These structures are stick built on site, which ensures maximum flexibility of the structure. The project also benefitted from reduced plant costs, as there was no need for the use of cranes to build the SFS. With land expensive and scarce in city centres, buildings upwards on existing structures is key to solving the shortage issue and SFS has proved to be the most cost and resource-effective way to do this.
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