Case study Cranmer Road Accommodation, King’s College Cambridge

© Max Fordham

Cranmer Road Student Accommodation consists of 2 graduate accommodation buildings for 59 students at King's College, delivered to achieve Passivhaus Classic certification.

Both buildings are occupied and we are using Post-Occupancy Evaluation to learn lessons, fine-tune the buildings, and improve future designs.

The buildings use electricity as their sole energy source, which aligns with the ongoing decarbonisation of the electricity grid.

Mechanical systems are decentralised, with point-of-use space heating and instantaneous domestic hot water generation limiting distribution losses. Waste water heat recovery and low flow showers limit the energy required for hot water, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) is used to limit heat loss and ensure good air quality year-round. Summer comfort is achieved thanks to natural ventilation with openable windows.

The design uses simple, standard components in systems that were easy to commission and will be simple to maintain.

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