The Bridge, Guildford

DMWR was appointed to assist Location Living following their acquisition of The Bridge building in central Guildford.

The building, formerly owned by the YMCA, had served as student accommodation for six years but required significant upgrades and reconfigurations to meet current student accommodation standards and compete with newer developments such as Guilden Village. The project involved modernising the facility, adding new studio rooms and refurbishing existing student bedrooms, all while maintaining the building’s functionality as a student residence.

Client

Location Living

Sector
Value

£TBA

Scale

Refurbishment of 130 student bedrooms over 4 storeys. Interior design of multiple student spaces

Services
  • RIBA 1-7
  • Design Development
  • Tender & Construction Drawings
  • Interior Design

What DMWR did

DMWR began by assessing the existing building’s structure, a four-storey concrete-framed brick structure, which was well-suited for internal reconfigurations. Following studies of potential layout options, the chosen design sought to add new studio rooms at ground level and add a whole lower ground floor level of student spaces.

Key alterations included the addition of 6 large communal kitchens, the creation of 18 studio rooms, refurbishment of existing bedrooms, a new break-out/gaming space, a movie room, a music rehearsal studio, laundry facilities and an office. A new reception and entrance area was also designed to provide a more welcoming first impression for the students.

Accessibility and fire safety improvements were also undertaken which modernised the building to meet current standards, where possible. As a result of the refurbishment and reconfiguration, an additional 18 studio rooms were added to the building, increasing the total bedroom count from 112 to 130.

All of the existing bedrooms were also refurbished and modernised, with ensuite bathrooms added to all bedrooms to enhance the accommodation offering, bringing it in line with other PBSA schemes in the town.

The Outcome

The modernisation and refurbishment of The Bridge were completed successfully, with the building fully opened and let in time for the September student intake.

The project resulted in a modern and highly functional student accommodation building that now houses 130 students. The new amenities, including the added studio rooms and refurbished bedrooms, allowed the building to meet contemporary student living standards while remaining competitive with other nearby purpose-built developments.

The reconfiguration of the lower ground floor into dedicated communal spaces has also fostered a stronger sense of community among students. The completed development now provides a high-quality, fully accessible living environment, contributing to a positive student experience in central Guildford.

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