J S Wright awarded Exeter student accommodation contract
Birmingham-based building services specialist J S Wright has been appointed to help meet booming demand for purpose-built student accommodation in Exeter.
The 129-year-old mechanical and electrical services specialist, which has its head office in Aston and offices in Bristol and London, has secured a contract worth more than £1.3million to design and build the M&E services for a new 120-bed scheme on the site of the dilapidated former Honiton Inn in Paris Street.
J S Wright was commissioned by South West regional contractor Pollard to equip the eight-storey block and its amenities, including a laundry, common room, warden’s office and cycle storage, with the energy efficient equipment.
The services include low pressure hot water (LPHW) heating, internal mains cold water and boosted cold water, domestic hot water, and gas distribution.
Students can expect excellent indoor air quality as J S Wright will install heat recovery supply and extract ventilation for the ground floor, and extract ventilation for all kitchens and showers within all the flats.
The company will also install a Building Management System, direct expansion (DX) air conditioning for the Comms Room, and all above-ground drainage.
In addition, a rainwater harvesting system, sanitary ware, and fire safety dry risers, sprinklers and alarms are within the wide-ranging commission.
J S Wright’s electrical brief will include the design and installation of the building’s mains distribution, including its low-voltage (LV) power distribution to individual flats, and communal power and lighting.
As part of its role in protecting students and their property, J S Wright will fit access control, CCTV, and data and TV systems, along with lightning protection and a disabled refuge system.
The sixth-month project is scheduled for completion in December 2019, in time for the 2019/20 student cohort.
Marcus Aniol, Managing Director of J S Wright, said: “We are delighted to be able to use our long experience in the student accommodation sector to help meet escalating demand for energy efficient purpose-built properties nationally.”
Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving homeowners and property managers across London.
The company was voted one of the UK's Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.
