GRAHAM has commenced work on a groundbreaking new student accommodation development on Dublin Road in Belfast. The £46 million project, commissioned by Queen's University Belfast, will be the city's first-ever Passivhaus-certified student housing.

The 459-bed development will set a new standard for sustainable student living in Northern Ireland. By adhering to the rigorous Passivhaus standards, the building will minimise energy consumption for heating and cooling, significantly reducing carbon emissions and enhancing occupant comfort.

The construction will feature a concrete frame with brick and glazed facades, incorporating mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) units and high-efficiency air source heat pumps. The 16-story building will offer a mix of cluster apartments and studio units, along with a range of high-quality amenities including meeting rooms, communal spaces, group dining areas, a post room, laundry facilities, and dedicated staff offices and welfare facilities.

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The growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient construction has led to increased interest in Passivhaus certification. The Dublin Road development will be a significant milestone for Belfast as the city's first ultra-low emission multi-occupancy building in the city centre.

Gary Holmes, managing director of GRAHAM's Building North region, said: "Queen's University has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing a high-quality, energy efficient development and as a business which prioritises sustainable practices, we are pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor."

GRAHAM has established a strong track record of constructing high-quality student accommodation in Belfast, having delivered the city's most significant PBSA development this year at Nelson Street. The BREEAM "very good" development has recently won a Green Apple Award for sustainability due, in part, to the installation of the first two blue roofs in Northern Ireland.