Chapter Lewisham

Building against a railway
Power of Modular Construction

Location:	London, United Kingdom
Services:	Full architectural design services

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Chapter Lewisham, a student housing development in south London, shows how offsite modular construction can help deliver large scale projects in less time - but to just as high a design standard – as traditional construction methods. The decision to use modular construction, as well as close collaboration with our design and build partners Tide Construction, resulted in a 50% uplift in student bed spaces from the original planning application.

Building against a railway

Located on a long, thin site with the railway line on one side and a major road on the other, our scheme forms part of the wider Lewisham town centre regeneration masterplan. In designing, we needed to take into account the unique setting, the tall blocks that surrounded the scheme, a flood environment and the narrow nature of the site.

Power of Modular Construction

The development provides 611 student bedrooms and ground level commercial space in two 12-storey blocks. The ground floor is raised due to the flood plain and the space created between the blocks forms the entrance to the communal student areas with landscaped space above.

We used a range of innovative design and construction methods to overcome the constraints of the site. To combat a potential canyon effect due to the tall blocks on either side of the road, we set back massing at the ground and first floor levels. We tackled the narrow setting by adding a double height colonnade to give the impression of a wider streetscape and increase pedestrian space.

The decision to use a modular system by Vision Modular to construct each of the residential floors resulted in significant programme savings Each of the 636 modules were delivered and erected in just three months, and full onsite construction took a total of just 10 months. Chapter Lewisham has been a highly successful development - only months after it was completed the space was fully occupied.

Chapter Lewisham, Thurston Road is a high quality addition to our growing portfolio of properties across London. We are privileged to play a part in the ongoing regeneration of Lewisham town centre.

Troy Tomasik, Managing Director investments, Greystar Europe Holdings

This is a fine example of how off-site modular construction can deliver a high quality development. The carefully considered design and innovative construction methods have enhanced the success of the project with speed of delivery, consistency of finish and reduction of site waste. The individual rooms are well finished and the common areas are interestingly “brut”.

Judge’s comments RICS Awards 2017 London