Transforming a vacant, run-down series of buildings into purpose-built student accommodation

More House Refurbishment

Situated just a one-minute walk from the Natural History Museum, 51–55 Cromwell Road is a series of 19th century buildings historically opened up and connected together to create More House, a form of student hostel. SAV Group acquired the vacant and run-down More House and engaged us as part of the team to help refurbish and restore the structure.

Working collaboratively with our mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) team and architect Studio Moren, our structural engineers delivered solutions for the three phases of the project. These included internal alterations, rear extensions, and the conversion of a former mews building into a new ancillary area. More House is in the Queens Gate Conservation Area of South Kensington, so all design decisions and material choices needed to be carefully considered to maintain the character of the area.

Our MEP team oversaw a complete strip-out of the existing inefficient services and delivered an energy efficient design that supports the needs of contemporary, high-quality student accommodation. We installed a ground source heat pump solution and provided ventilation services design that reduces energy consumption through the use of heat recovery.

This transformation of More House delivers 115 student rooms, all en-suite with kitchen and communal living space, and also visually improves this part of Cromwell Road.