PCE appointed DfMA specialist for the University of Manchester's Fallowfield development

PCE is pleased to announce its appointment as specialist DfMA superstructure and façade contractor for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Student Accommodation redevelopment, working in collaboration with main contractor GRAHAM.

The scheme will deliver up to 3,300 high-quality student homes across the former Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall sites, alongside new amenity spaces and extensive green infrastructure. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the development will form five distinct neighbourhoods inspired by Manchester’s cultural, sporting and musical heritage. The project is targeting Passivhaus certification - which would make it the largest certified Passivhaus development in Europe - and is also pursuing a BREEAM Excellent rating.

PCE’s scope includes the design, manufacture and installation of the superstructure and façade, delivered using PCE’s Hybrid Living structural system. Built around an optimised 2D kit-of-parts, Hybrid Living provides a systemised, repeatable approach that delivers greater speed, predictability, quality and control across design, manufacture and on-site assembly.

Deployed within a fully integrated MMC environment, the system is underpinned by digital design and quality management, ensuring transparency, traceability and compliance from early design through to handover.

PCE looks forward to working closely with GRAHAM and the wider project team to deliver a landmark, large-scale student accommodation development that demonstrates the value of DfMA and system-led construction at scale.

Craig Billyeald, Project Director at PCE, noted:

“We’re delighted to be supporting GRAHAM as the DfMA superstructure and façade specialist on the Fallowfield redevelopment - a truly landmark project in terms of scale, ambition and complexity. This appointment reflects the strength of our long-standing collaboration and a shared commitment to delivering certainty, quality and safety through smart, systemised construction.

By deploying our Hybrid Living structural system, we’re able to bring a high level of predictability and control to the programme, while maintaining the flexibility needed to respond to a project of this size. We’re excited to continue working closely with GRAHAM and the wider project team to deliver success through a digitally enabled, MMC-led approach from design through to handover.”

Images courtesy of Sheppard Robson