University Hall Apartments, Auckland

In 2022, our team supported the revitalisation of a student accommodation facility at the University of Auckland. The building, originally designed for long-term student housing, had become outdated – both in its internal condition and its ability to meet contemporary expectations for energy efficiency, safety and comfort.

The university’s goal was clear: refresh a valuable, but underperforming, asset with a focus on functionality, sustainability and student wellbeing. Without full redevelopment, the project sought to extend the asset’s life and deliver real improvement through efficient building services upgrades.

The accommodation block spans 4 levels with 23 apartments and includes 106 student rooms in total. Each floor features a mix of 4 and 5 bedroom apartments which include private lockable bedrooms accessed directly off central lounge areas and shared amenities, including kitchens and bathrooms.

The building also includes a shared communal student lounge to support casual social interaction.

The rooms vary slightly in size following the refurbishment, allowing for more effective furniture placement and improved light and airflow in some areas. While no major structural changes were introduced, careful consideration went into room sizing and finishes to enhance day-to-day usability.

The existing services were removed entirely, allowing our team to deliver mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire systems from a clean base. The new services were deliberately kept straightforward – to deliver value as well as simpler long-term maintenance.

The building’s structure included hollow-core slab construction which restricted where risers and pipework could pass through floors. Rather than conducting full scanning, our team worked collaboratively with the architect and university to develop bathroom layouts with inbuilt flexibility – allowing fixtures like showers and toilets to shift within a defined zone based on penetration availability. This increased speed on site and reduced unexpected coordination delays.

Notable updates included:

• installation of heat pumps in each apartment with simple timer controls to regulate usage
• upgraded lighting and electrical systems to modern standards
• improvements to hydraulic and fire protection systems to help ensure compliance and safety.

By incorporating timed controls on heat pumps, the university was able to maintain comfort for students while limiting unnecessary energy consumption. This small change supports their broader energy efficiency and carbon reduction strategies.

This project was about delivering a robust, functional space that students could feel comfortable and safe in. The new accommodation is light, clean and easy to maintain. Importantly, it allows the university to enhance an existing building back into service at a time when student housing demand is increasing.

The feedback has been positive, the design team achieved a real lift in building quality and everyday usability – delivering an outcome that supports both student experience and operational performance.