Stepnell has completed two refurbishment projects for the University of Southampton, aimed at improving teaching and residential facilities in preparation for the upcoming academic year.

The refurbishment of the Nightingale Building, which is part of the university’s School of Health Sciences, has involved reconfiguring existing spaces and creating new rooms to offer modern training facilities and mock wards. These upgrades comply with the latest NHS standards for nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, podiatry, and cardiac physiology programs.

Throughout the project, Stepnell collaborated closely with the design team and client stakeholders to incorporate energy efficiency measures, diverting 96% of waste from landfills. Additionally, the company emphasized local sourcing, with two-thirds of contractors coming from within 30 miles of the site.


Stepnell has also completed a multi-million pound refurbishment of the university’s Old Terrace student accommodation at the Glen Eyre halls of residence, ready to meet the needs of the university’s growing student population.

The comprehensive refurbishment, completed over a 24-week programme, includes a complete replacement of communal kitchens, reconfiguring communal washrooms into self-contained pods with showers, WCs, and toilets, as well as external refurbishments.

Early contractor engagement, detailed surveys, and strategic procurement planning allowed Stepnell to de-risk main works packages and secure necessary materials with long lead times.

Rob Speirs, regional director at Stepnell, said: "These refurbishment projects combine our excellence in education and healthcare sector projects in the South of England. Operating from our Southampton office, we were able to maximise our local supply chain to meet the university’s requirements and create opportunities through the builds, navigating scheduling and design refinements.

"The successful refurbishment of the Nightingale Building and the Old Terrace underscores Stepnell’s capability to deliver high-quality construction projects under tight deadlines, demonstrating a strong commitment to client satisfaction and excellence in construction.

"Through robust client engagement, sector specialism and a proactive approach, we were able to maintain seamless operations without additional costs, which has enabled the university to revitalise its existing teaching and accommodation resources for the next academic year."