UNITE Sky Plaza Leeds : Architecture Information

UNITE completes Sky Plaza, Leeds - by careyjones architects 26 Jun 2009 World's tallest student accommodation building to provide space for 1,500 students UNITE, the UK's leading developer and manager of student accommodation, has completed the final phase of its £80 million purpose built student accommodation development in Leeds, Sky Plaza. The 104-metre (342 ft) high, 37 storey scheme is the tallest of its kind in the world, and was designed by award winning architect careyjones and is UNITE's largest development in its 18 year history. Sky Plaza was developed in two phases which together offer 349,000 sq ft of student accommodation and 4,400 sq ft of ancillary retail space. Phase One was completed in September 2006 and comprises of 964 purpose build en-suite study rooms. The construction of Phase Two was undertaken by Shepherd Construction Ltd. Sky Plaza Phase Two will provide professionally managed accommodation for 533 students living in a range of cluster flat sizes, studios and spacious one bed flats when it opens its doors for the first time this autumn. This development is UNITE's sixth in Leeds and will bring the total number of beds it operates in the city to over 3,000. Sky Plaza will bring much needed new bed spaces to Leeds as the number of students attending the City's Universities continues to increase in common with total UK student numbers. The 2008/2009 academic year saw a 10.4% increase in UK student numbers and the number of applications for 2009/2010 is up 8.8%, equating to an additional 42,367 applicants (source: UCAS, 23 April 2009). Conversely, the supply of new purpose-built beds is small and UNITE estimates the net new supply in 2009 and 2010 will be only approximately 6,000 beds and 4,000 beds respectively, creating huge competition for accommodation and other related services. Consultants working on the project include, Employer's Agent - Stace LLP, Structural Engineer - WSP Group - and Services Consultant - Brentwood Design Group, Architects - careyjones, Construction Partners - Shepherd Construction Ltd. Richard Simpson, Development Director at UNITE, commented "The construction of Sky Plaza marks a significant achievement for UNITE. We have completed our largest single scheme to date amongst exceptionally difficult economic circumstances. "We are also continuing to develop new schemes, specifically in our key market of London, where the supply/demand imbalance is particularly pronounced and are on track to deliver approximately 2,700 beds in the Capital during 2009. We are continuing to build our portfolio and work has also now started on site on three schemes that will be delivered in 2010 totalling 1,125 new bed spaces, all of which are fully funded and located in London." Robert Cunniff, Director at Leeds based careyjones, commented: "Sky Plaza represents a massive leap forward in terms of quality of product design and living environment for students in the UK, and careyjones are delighted to have acted for UNITE on this landmark project."