Mayfair Court
Urbanise was delighted to be selected to update and refurbish various external elements of Mayfair Court in Fallowfield, a popular and thriving student area of Manchester.
The premises comprise two fully let student accommodation blocks based around an internal courtyard. We were brought in to ensure the courtyard’s watertight integrity and update the aesthetic of the courtyard.
Restoring the courtyard
We were first tasked with waterproofing the concrete deck above the basement car park, which formed the foundation slab for the internal courtyard. Water was leaking into the basement car park below causing considerable damage. We then improved the existing drainage and repaved the courtyard using a pedestal system to allow rainwater to drain in between the slabs. Next, we landscaped the courtyard with a new aesthetic, which was particularly well received by residents.
Lastly, we focused on the courtyard roof. The existing roof hadn’t been properly maintained and was in a poor state of repair. We replaced the roof with a polycarbonate roofing system, providing durability and longevity.
Project challenges
The courtyard was completely inaccessible from the road, so we had to carefully manage access, materials storage and waste removal. We created a conveyer belt system through the building to remove waste, overcoming the access challenge.
As residents were living in the building, their safety and comfort was our utmost priority. We worked closely with our sub-contractors to phase the works, resulting in minimal disruption, and to maintain appropriate, safe access for residents at all times. We kept all residents informed of the programme of works, including the days and times that would be noisier than usual to reduce inconvenience.
Further wins
We received great feedback from the client on this project, in particular the paving design. As a result, we were invited back to deliver structural repairs to the building.
