The Crome Court and Blackdale student residences are a significant extension to the provision of residential accommodation at the University of East Anglia. They also form part of the University’s £58-million Low-Carbon Campus masterplan.  Crome Court was completed in 2014, and Blackdale two years later.  Both developments were designed by Norwich-based LSI Architects and incorporate CLT (cross-laminated timber) structures.

At the time of Crome Court’s inception in 2012, cross laminated timber was a relatively new building technology in the UK.  A BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ was also targeted for both developments and therefore more stringent acoustic standards were required over and above compliance with Approved Document E criteria.  Our acoustic design work therefore involved a considerable amount of research into and interrogation of the limited acoustic data available from manufacturers.

We worked closely with the architects and contractors to develop and refine separating wall and floor constructions between student bedrooms.  This included conducting preliminary sound insulation tests on advance sample rooms, which allowed us to consider site-specific issues such as service penetrations and bathroom pods, and the effect of these on the sound insulation achievable in practice.

Crome Court won a National RICS Design Through Innovation Award and a Green Gown Award for the Built Environment in 2015.

Client: University of East Anglia
Architect: LSI Architects LLP

Contractors: Kier Eastern (Crome Court), R G Carter (Blackdale)
Contract value: £9.4m (Crome Court), £25m (Blackdale)