Student Accommodation, Mace Developments

Project:                            West Way Square, Oxford
Sector:                             Student accommodation
Client:                               Mace Developments
Main Contractor:             SDC Construction
Pod Type:                         GRP shower pods
Number of pods:             240

The Project

Offsite Solutions has manufactured more than 1,400 shower pods in contracts worth over £3 million for three student housing schemes developed by Mace.

The GRP composite pods were used for the West Wing in Cardiff, The Depot in Exeter, and West Way Square in Oxford.

The latest project is West Way Square in the Botley area of Oxford, which provides graduate and student accommodation designed around a central public piazza.

There are 261 stylish, 32m² studios, and one and two-bedroom apartments with ensuite shower rooms. Additional facilities include communal spaces for leisure and study, gym, games room, multi-media room and a terrace with lawns.

The Bathroom Pod Solution

The Offsite Solutions design team worked closely with Mace to develop a standardised ensuite pod solution for use on multiple student schemes.

Each pod was fully fitted out and finished in the factory and had only left and right-hand variations for maximum efficiency in offsite manufacturing.

The GRP shower pods developed with Mace feature:

• An attractive, low maintenance tile-effect finish integral to the pod
• Sliding polished aluminium and glass shower screen
• Wall-mounted dual flush toilet
• Ecotherm thermostatic shower
• Glass shelf to the wash basin
• Black opal-effect vanity shelf
• Amtico flooring
• Towel rail
• Contemporary mixer tap
• Soap dish
• Shaver socket.

The Customer Perspective

Trevor Bonnage, Operations Director, Mace Developments:

“Pods are an ideal solution for student schemes to speed up construction and improve quality. A major development for student housing contains an incredible amount of plumbing. To replace the bathrooms with a single ‘product’ makes much more sense.”

“We like Offsite Solutions’ products and particularly their GRP pods which have a moulded tile-effect finish. This feature makes a huge difference to the pod aesthetic and avoids any issues with ceramic tiles needing replacement over time. We have to have complete confidence in the quality and water tightness of the bathroom pods. I can report that Offsite Solutions have demonstrated this on all three schemes.”

The Advantages of GRP Bathroom Pods

GRP composite bathroom pods are specified for projects where robustness, longevity and ease of maintenance are primary considerations. These pods are widely used in the student accommodation, build-to-rent, affordable housing, military, hospital, and hotel sectors.

Offsite Solutions is the only pod manufacturer in the UK to use a panelised construction for its GRP bathroom pods. This creates vertical walls and 90° corners for easier integration and the use of standard door sets, removing the need for further work on site.

This design solution also improves aesthetics by avoiding tapered walls which you have with pods created from single GRP moulds. A realistic tile-effect finish and recesses can be incorporated into the design of these bathroom pods for further visual appeal.

Images courtesy of Mace Developments