TRILUX low-energy LED luminaires meet Cambridge's largest Passivhaus student residential building requirements

Setting a new benchmark in sustainability for student accommodation

The Cambridge University Lucy Cavendish College's mission is to attract, support and unlock the potential of students from non-traditional and underrepresented backgrounds who are driven by a desire to make a difference. The University is also dedicated to building in a radical way to reduce its carbon emissions.

The new student accommodation near Lady Margaret Road reflects this. The latest eco-friendly and accessible facility comprises 72 student rooms and social spaces.

The scheme, designed by RH Partnership Architects, is developed to the Passivhaus standard to significantly reduce energy use, and ensure comfort for students and carers, using modern methods of construction and sustainable, robust materials to reduce embodied carbon.

The scheme is centred around large quantiles of natural daylight, so the role of artificial lighting is to supplement, and substitute come nightfall. To meet the Passivhaus requirements, LEDs' low energy and low heat qualities were a natural choice. For a high-quality LED solution, electrical contractors Munro Building Services turned to its trusted lighting partner, TRILUX.

Many of Lucy Cavendish College's undergraduates will be living away from home for the first time. So, the lighting for the new building also had to help create a welcoming, inclusive environment to offer a sense of community where students can achieve the best academic outcomes in their home away from home.

Bedroom Lighting

The bedrooms are designed to be comfortable, welcoming, and structured, enabling students to get to know each other in manageable groups. Here the wall mounted TRILUX LC60 aids the main aim. Its 3000K warm, welcoming light is easily dimmable and creates a cosy, inviting atmosphere for students to retire to after a long day.

Common meeting places

A study café space on the ground floor includes a range of facilities, including study booths and intelligent screens, encouraging students to collaborate in the way that suits them best. TRILUX Limba pendants, in a gold and black finish, add striking appeal and help form the café setting. Its 3-D faceted reflector and opal acrylic ring offer exceptional glare control, ideal for hi-tech working aids.

Grant Rigg, Electrical Project Manager, Munro comments, "Trilux have been incredibly proactive from the early design stage, liaising directly with the client's team through to project delivery. Working with them on the scheme has been a pleasure, and they are always happy to help/ find a solution."

For more information on TRILUX’s education lighting solutions please visit us HERE

Edge Hill to build £17.4 million life science facility

Edge Hill University has been given the green light to create a state-of-the-art Life Sciences building at its Ormskirk campus

Plans for the new facility have been approved by West Lancashire Council. Construction is planned to commence within the next few days, with the aim that the building will be fully operational by the end of this year.

Representing the first stage of a wider masterplan for the development of the central campus area, the University will be investing £17.4m into the project, including £5.8m of funding awarded by the Office for Students.

The Life Sciences building will support both research and teaching at the University. In particular, it will significantly advance the University’s capabilities in Biomedical research, with work being done in areas such as cancer, neurobiology, genetic skin conditions and ageing.

The new laboratory facilities will help undergraduate

Biosciences students by giving them the opportunity to use the latest technology, and further develop their skillset by working alongside experienced researchers.

The building will also be used by the University’s Medical School, which opened in 2020.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Steve Igoe said: “This is a critical moment in Edge Hill University’s continued development. Life Sciences is an area which is constantly evolving, and is seen as a prime opportunity for growth in the country so we need to be proactive and create facilities which will serve the next generation of researchers and students.

“This is the first phase of a wider masterplan for the central campus. Subsequent stages will see the development of new residential student accommodation, a new Students’ Union and specialist clinically-led facilities for the Medical School.”

For further information please visit www.edgehill.ac.uk