Why SIP Wrap and Infill Makes a Better Business Case for Student Accommodation

According to a recent Knight Frank study, there are three times more full-time students in the UK than there are purpose built student accommodation bed spaces. Some students are happy to ‘live out’ for some part of their course, but there’s also no doubt that the availability of reasonably priced good quality accommodation, that is convenient for the campus, is a significant draw for many more.

Although the majority of current student accommodation is owned and operated by the universities themselves, there’s a clear trend towards working with private sector developers on new developments. The research shows that private sector development accounts for 84% of the pipeline.

In providing additional student accommodation there are two clear priorities. The first is cost control. Affordability is an increasingly important factor for students, which explains the increasing popularity of cluster flats comprising en-suite rooms surrounding communal living spaces. The business case for creating the additional accommodation can be finely balanced and potential cost overruns are a major risk factor that has to be managed.

Confidence in the build programme is also critical. Commitments to prospective students will be made on the basis of scheduled completion dates and delays to rental revenues can have serious cash flow implications.

The Case for SIP Wrap and Infill

Using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) as infill or wrap for steel or concrete framed buildings addresses the cost and timing priorities. Build times are reduced because the large format panels can be craned into position and secured much faster than traditional blockwork. This can normally be done without scaffolding.

Additionally, there is no need for separate thermal and acoustic insulation treatments to be applied onsite. These operations can add variability to time, cost and eventual performance. Because SIPs allow a watertight structure to be built up one storey at a time it’s also possible to schedule fit-out works without waiting for the entire structure to finished, complete with wrap or infill.

A simplified building process delivers greater confidence over costs, without the usual variabilities over materials and labour availability. And fortunately, the decision to adopt SIPs as the wrap or infill method can be made fairly late in the programme – presenting an opportunity to recover the schedule for projects that are going off track.

Flexibility over future use may also be an issue for developers considering partnering with universities to build and manage student accommodation. Using SIPs for internal partitions as well as wrap and infill provides greater adaptability over the use of internal space. The future building use is less constrained by the current configuration for a particular style of student accommodation.

Because delivery on time and on budget is so critical for student accommodation there’s a strong case for taking advantage of the simplicity and flexibility of the Innovaré and i-FAST building systems for wrap and infill.

Find out more about utilising wrap and infill approach for your next student accommodation project here.