This PBSA development is a dynamic addition to the existing campus at Bagot Street, Birmingham. Drawing on the site’s industrial heritage, once home to the Proofing House where firearms from the surrounding Gun Quarter were rigorously tested, the design celebrates Birmingham’s legacy of metalwork and innovation. The shimmering façade features colours that evoke the alloy metals historically used in gun manufacture, while the explosive energy, motion, and light of the testing process inspired the interior concept. Vivid light batons, directional arrow motifs, and patterns of movement are layered onto an iridescent metal palette, creating an assertive, upbeat aesthetic tailored to young, energetic student life.

Internally, the ground floor amenity spaces were carefully sequenced to transition from quiet to loud, low-energy to high-energy environments. Calm study lounges and private meeting rooms lead into open-plan social areas designed for group work, sit-down games, and casual lounging. Progressing through the space, louder zones such as pool tables and table football connect with a bar stool seating area, culminating in a high-energy gym. This intuitive spatial flow encourages chance encounters, fostering community and helping to address student isolation by naturally increasing social interaction.

Architecturally, the two student living towers are connected by a transparent main entrance, acting as a visual and physical link. JS+P collaborated closely with the architects Tim Groom to ensure the spaces became an animated, engaging focal point. Exposed structural frames and raw concrete surfaces are accentuated with coloured lighting and crisp linear details, creating a striking arrival space that enhances the student experience and supports first-class service delivery.