Bluebell accommodation wins residential award

The Bluebell accommodation block on Warwick University campus has won the residential category in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) West Midlands Project of the Year Awards for 2013.

The awards, which include several other categories, such as regeneration and design and innovation, aim to recognise projects that have made a positive contribution to land, property, construction and the environment.

Bluebell, situated nearby the Rootes halls of residence, was up against two other constructions in the residential category.

These were William Lench Court, a collection of 63 apartments in Quinton, a suburb of Birmingham, and the recently refurbished Russell House in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The RICS judges were full of praise for the halls of residence, referencing the “spectacular views over the landscape” that Bluebell offers.

The judges also noted an appreciation for the way in which the buildings keep “the visual link between campus and the countryside beyond.”

The director of estates for the University, Bob Wilson, said: “It’s always a pleasure to see Warwick’s buildings publicly recognised as the excellent constructions they are.

“Thank you to everyone who worked on this project and all the other fantastic projects on campus.”

First-year politics student and Bluebell resident, Nick Perry, also thought the award was well deserved, commenting: “Bluebell is the model in modern student accommodation.”

He added: “There is a nice culture in Bluebell, and everyone respects each other’s time and space.  It has been a great introduction to life at university, and really should be seen as the way forward for future developers of student accommodation.”