Campus East, University of York
Campus East, University of York
Undertaken on a tract of former arable land that was intensively farmed for decades, the Campus East development was designed to facilitate the expansion of the University of York, provide cutting-edge teaching facilities and significant extra accommodation capacity, all while rewilding the surrounding grounds to provide a biodiverse habitat.
In the latest phase of the development, a 1480-bed student accommodation project, involved constructing two new buildings to house Ann Lister College and David Cato College. This £130m scheme involved significant civil engineering consideration, as the lakeside site was in a high water table area and required a significant dewatering strategy.
Sustainability was a key driver in the project, with modern methods of construction – including off-site manufacturing, modular external sandwich panels, and prefabricated steel bathroom pods – supporting an energy-efficient and waste-reducing approach to expanding the Campus, while also preserving the ecological diversity around the nearby lake. This philosophy extended to the design of the semi-private courtyards and covered walkways between the buildings, with their carefully considered planting schemes.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Undertaken on a tract of former arable land that was intensively farmed for decades, the Campus East development was designed to facilitate the expansion of the University of York, provide cutting-edge teaching facilities and significant extra accommodation capacity, all while rewilding the surrounding grounds to provide a biodiverse habitat.
In the latest phase of the development, a 1480-bed student accommodation project, involved constructing two new buildings to house Ann Lister College and David Cato College. This £130m scheme involved significant civil engineering consideration, as the lakeside site was in a high water table area and required a significant dewatering strategy.
Sustainability was a key driver in the project, with modern methods of construction – including off-site manufacturing, modular external sandwich panels, and prefabricated steel bathroom pods – supporting an energy-efficient and waste-reducing approach to expanding the Campus, while also preserving the ecological diversity around the nearby lake. This philosophy extended to the design of the semi-private courtyards and covered walkways between the buildings, with their carefully considered planting schemes.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Greening courtyard spaces
GreenBlue Urban worked closely with contractor Moortown Group and landscape architects Landscape Projects, to ensure that the public areas between the buildings would benefit from the addition of 22 trees planted within the hard landscaped area.
The species were chosen for their visual appeal and enhancement of the ecological value of the site as a whole, and tolerance of moist ground conditions owing to the sustainable drainage (SuDS) approach used to manage surface water at Campus East: three oaks (Quercus robur ‘Koster’), three ornamental pears (Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’) and 16 silver limes (Tillia Tormentosa).
In addition, this planting was intended to not only soften the aesthetics of the paved areas, boost biodiversity and happily coexist with the SuDS approach taken to dewatering the site, but also to provide cooling canopy cover and create a more pleasant, nature-enriched environment for students, staff and visitors to enjoy.
Greening courtyard spaces
GreenBlue Urban worked closely with contractor Moortown Group and landscape architects Landscape Projects, to ensure that the public areas between the buildings would benefit from the addition of 22 trees planted within the hard landscaped area.
The species were chosen for their visual appeal and enhancement of the ecological value of the site as a whole, and tolerance of moist ground conditions owing to the sustainable drainage (SuDS) approach used to manage surface water at Campus East: three oaks (Quercus robur ‘Koster’), three ornamental pears (Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’) and 16 silver limes (Tillia Tormentosa).
In addition, this planting was intended to not only soften the aesthetics of the paved areas, boost biodiversity and happily coexist with the SuDS approach taken to dewatering the site, but also to provide cooling canopy cover and create a more pleasant, nature-enriched environment for students, staff and visitors to enjoy.
Improving health and longevity
Our ArborSystem Root Management solutions were selected to provide the ideal environment for promoting strong and healthy tree growth, maximising the benefit of the green infrastructure and helping to ensure minimal future maintenance requirements:
- RootSpace G2 600 ensures superior soil conditions.
- ReRoot 2000 directs root growth downward to protect the built environment.
- ArborVent 150 enhances aeration and facilitates effective watering.
- Underground guying offers discreet rootball stabilisation.
- Arboresin grilles help prevent soil compaction while adding to the visual appeal.
Combined with the other planting schemes and bodies of water incorporated within the landscape design, the inclusion of trees within the outdoor social spaces support the SuDS approach to dewatering, help the development to blend into the natural backdrop, and enjoy continuity with the emphasis on biodiversity that has been employed in the wider grounds.
Improving health and longevity
Our ArborSystem Root Management solutions were selected to provide the ideal environment for promoting strong and healthy tree growth, maximising the benefit of the green infrastructure and helping to ensure minimal future maintenance requirements:
- RootSpace G2 600 ensures superior soil conditions.
- ReRoot 2000 directs root growth downward to protect the built environment.
- ArborVent 150 enhances aeration and facilitates effective watering.
- Underground guying offers discreet rootball stabilisation.
- Arboresin grilles help prevent soil compaction while adding to the visual appeal.
Combined with the other planting schemes and bodies of water incorporated within the landscape design, the inclusion of trees within the outdoor social spaces support the SuDS approach to dewatering, help the development to blend into the natural backdrop, and enjoy continuity with the emphasis on biodiversity that has been employed in the wider grounds.
