Astor College

The experience of students who live at Astor College has been transformed by the redesign of the college. There are now more bedrooms whilst each room has a larger bed than before. Step-free accessibility throughout the building is guaranteed. The refreshed building boasts: 

• 294 student bedrooms, an increase of 60 additional bedrooms
• Improved step-free routes including ramp access, accessible lifts, and 5 wheelchair-accessable en-suites
• Modern kitchens with open-plan dining areas support students to choose how and when they eat
• Effortless wayfinding with tailored Astor College branding to create a personalised residence
• Communal lounges on the ground floor and a furnished outdoor courtyard create a social hub for the whole college

Sustainability, Access, and Inclusion

The halls are located in a mixed residential and retail area, so an emphasis was placed on reusing materials wherever possible to minimise the amount of traffic to site and construction waste. This resulted in a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating. Astor College now has a much smaller resource footprint after refurbishment:

• The rooftop solar array contributes to a 50% reduction in emissions of CO2 
• The building requies 40% less water consumption compared to before the refurbishment
• Appliances, lighting, and amenities have a high level of energy efficiency reducing the base load of the building
• Recessed insulated windows keep rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer
• Noise and light pollution from the college have been reduced, helping us to be good neighbours