WCEC Architects to speak at leading European Student Housing Conference
A Chesterfield based architect is to deliver a keynote speech at a European conference on the remarkable change in how students live.
Nick Riley, Design Director at WCEC, at Sheepbridge, Chesterfield, has been at the forefront in the evolution of student housing in the UK for more than ten years, delivering more than 18,000 beds.
He said:-
“This is a significant conference. Gone are the days of basic, functional and high density accommodation led by ageing university halls of residence lacking imagination.
“I believe we are now heading towards a new era of student living, potentially with a more ‘raw urban’ look satisfying the next generation of students who will be the most formally educated, most technology supplied and the wealthiest ever.”
Nick, one of the executive architects behind the world’s biggest co-living space in London, will speak at ‘The Class of 2020’ European Student Housing conference in Vienna, Austria on Thursday (Nov 3rd). The two-day annual conference attracts hundreds of delegates, including a large UK contingent, involved in developing student housing.
Nick will present a UK perspective outlining how student housing has changed in the last ten years to respond to students’ needs, demands and aspirations. He will also explore ideas for what we might see in student housing over the next ten years.
Nick said:-
“Student housing is now a mature asset class in the UK and attracts and generates millions of pounds’ worth of investment for the economy.
“I’m very pleased to be speaking at this conference as the UK is regarded as the leader in this sector globally. I believe student housing will continue to grow and evolve and we are outlining our vision for the future at the event.
“Key themes of my talk will include better and more efficient ways of building, greater integration of technology and connectivity, greater flexibility of living spaces and amenity space.
“The boundaries between University campus and where students live are increasingly blurred; modern student housing developments need to provide a much greater range of facilities and services for residents to live, rest, exercise, socialise, work and play.”
