Students are moving into upgraded halls of residence in Southampton for the first time after a £12m refurbishment by Brymor Construction.
The major revamp of the University of Southampton’s Montefiore blocks in Wessex Lane was finished in time for the start of the new term this autumn.
Hampshire-based Brymor– a £85m turnover firm with more than 150 staff – carried out a complete overhaul of the ageing but structurally sound buildings, which date back to the 1960s.
It came as students return to campuses following the easing of lockdown restrictions, with latest figures showing that the University of Southampton is worth £1.3bn annually to the regional Hampshire economy.
Stephen Morton, Chairman of Brymor, said: “There is always a tremendous sense of achievement in seeing buildings come back into use following major refurbishment.
“This was a substantial project aimed at breathing new life into ageing accommodation blocks to ensure they meet the high standards set by the university and demanded by students today.
“There were a number of different elements which required careful planning and management while ensuring the refurbishment remained on course despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
Stephen, who founded Brymor with wife Jan in 1987, added: “Students help make Southampton the vibrant city that it is.
“It is essential for the local economy that the university continues to thrive as one of the best in the country. I hope the new students settle in comfortably and enjoy their studies.”
The project was Brymor’s largest for a halls of residence in terms of value and the extent of works although it has previously worked on student blocks with more rooms.
It included refurbishment of all rooms and communal spaces in Montefiore Blocks A and B, along with upgraded and new kitchens for a total of 260 students at the halls.
Other elements included furnishing, reconfiguration of communal washrooms into self-contained shower pods and refurbishment of mechanical and electrical services as well as windows replacement. External works involved landscaping, paving, footpaths, signage and lighting.
Trudi Vout, Director of Residential Services at the University of Southampton, said: “The university is committed to creating the best living experience for its students and the completion of the refurbished halls in another milestone in our ambitious programme.”
Brymor is a collaborative and flexible business with a seamless approach from conception to completion, with the focus on innovative solutions, quality, safety and transparency.
It operates in a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, hotel and leisure, façade rectification, infrastructure, commercial and industrial, defence, heritage, housing and retail.
Visit https://www.brymor.co.uk/ and https://www.southampton.ac.uk/ or more details.
