ISG has successfully completed an £840K student accommodation project at St Mary’s College in Oscott, near Sutton Coldfield.

The contractor has adopted a painstaking and methodical approach to the sensitive refurbishment and rationalisation of existing space within the Grade II listed college buildings to deliver new residential accommodation for staff and students at the home of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

The historically important buildings, which opened as St Mary’s College in 1838, boast a host of original and protected architectural elements and ISG has worked alongside conservation specialists to preserve and refurbish the fabric of the structure. As part of the project, damaged stone window surrounds were removed and expertly restored by traditional craftsmen and, wherever possible, ISG re-used much of the existing skirting, flooring and timber partitions within the newly formed accommodation areas.

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The contractor carefully reconfigured the existing student room layout across the second floor in one building and the third floor of another to create 17 new study bedrooms and seven staff bedrooms complete with en-suite facilities. The project was carried out in a live environment, with staff and students in occupation throughout and handed over by ISG on time and on budget.

Jonathan Kell, ISG’s Midlands managing director, commented: "We have been extremely fortunate working with such an informed and progressive client at St Mary’s College as the challenges associated with listed building schemes can be significant. Great communication has been an important feature of the project and a close working relationship has contributed to the identification of key cost savings for our client as well aiding our ability to work effectively whilst minimising disruption to staff and students.”

(GK/LB)