EQUANS has been appointed to deliver a major £140 million post-graduate student accommodation project for the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), covering the design, build, operational services and maintenance of the scheme.

The contract will see EQUANS demolish an existing warehouse on Glengall Road, Southwark, before delivering a student accommodation scheme for LSE. This will be followed by a 50-year facilities management and lifecycle contract.

The new 15-storey halls of residence will provide 676 new energy efficient student bed spaces, with additional facilities, including a new gym, external courtyards, roof terraces, shared kitchens, a cinema room, laundry room, amenity space and staff offices.

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Following construction, EQUANS will be responsible for the hard and soft FM and lifecycle management of the halls of residence – from furnishings, through to infrastructure replacement, including electrical wiring, shower facilities and lifts. EQUANS will also be responsible for providing high speed WiFi and IT services throughout the accommodation.

EQUANS will provide energy management and monitoring across the sites, bringing innovative technology to deliver a sustainable student experience, and also optimising levels of energy efficiency within the buildings. EQUANS will be incorporating several smart building technologies, to maximise energy efficiency, drive down carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills. The combination of low-carbon solutions by EQUANS are together designed to achieve a ‘very good’ rating under BREEAM (the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings).

More than a third of the accommodation is solely for lower income students and the rooms will be marketed at a discount price, compared to other properties in the LSE portfolio.