Stepnell cracks on with student hub

RUGBY construction firm Stepnell has started work on the first phase of a new hub for students at the University of Nottingham.

It is undertaking the remodelling and refurbishment of part of the ground-floor of the university’s Portland Building, delivering a £687,000 scheme which will transform the Student Union’s current night club and bar area known as ‘The Den’ into a new activity space.

Designed by Nottingham-based CPMG Architects, the plans have been developed by the students and the university.

The new activity space is designed for socialising, performing and meeting and includes a new performance space with a stage, sound and light system, a retractable seating area and improved and relocated cloakrooms.

Stepnell will strip out existing fixtures and fittings, comprehensively remodel the existing layout, replace and upgrade the mechanical and electrical services installations and carry out a full refurbishment and redecoration of the interior.

It also carrying out extensive work to the building’s exterior. 

Construction work is set for completion in September, ready for it to open this autumn.

Stepnell operations and commercial manager Thomas Sewell said: “It’s great to be drawing on our extensive experience of delivering high-quality refurbishment and construction projects for the further education sector to create this vibrant new centre for student life.”