As a leading student accommodation provider committed to community, respect and working in partnership with the top universities in the country, UPP has long been committed to designing and building inclusive spaces for students to live in.
We are conscious of the need for diverse living spaces which cater to all students. We have built a range of room types, from studios to family-friendly options, creating a sense of belonging and allowing for personalisation. Our commitment to variety extends to accommodating different lifestyles, interests, and cultural practices.
UPP have a long and proud history of designing for accessibility and inclusivity. Using building regulations and best practice, as well as years of experience and student feedback, we have developed a market leading Design Brief and Product Book, helping to guide us in designing and building for the future.
Accessibility
Over time we have increased the proportion of accessible rooms built in each scheme: in our most recent completed project in Exeter, 2.88% of rooms were accessible. We have increasingly designed and built rooms with accessible features, such as lowered worktops and sinks, powered doors and windows and spur points for future accessibility.
All bedrooms we build are now capable of allowing wheelchairs, while we design corridors which allow wheelchairs to turn. These adaptations support all students to more easily visit friends, building truly inclusive communities in halls.
Inclusion and culture
Creating inclusive spaces is an important part of welcoming students with diverse needs to university. Another critical step is at intakes or arrivals: this is our chance to give a positive first impression of our accommodation for students and their parents. Some of our University Partners hold early arrivals for students with physical accessibility needs, making the parking and unloading process as easy as possible for them.
Considering the cultures and faiths of the students who live in our accommodation is so important to us. We design and build a range of spaces for cultural needs, from private and quiet rooms to larger spaces for festivals and other celebrations.
At our Exeter accommodation, we’re designing a new Multi-Faith Centre with flexible spaces to support various worship practices. It will include a 50 person Muslim prayer space and a multi-faith space for quiet reflection, services and events. It will also house a communal meeting space, a kitchen, a dedicated office for the Multi-faith Chaplaincy Team and an external terrace area. We have ensured that the Multi-Faith Centre is properly reflective of the needs of the student body through a thorough consultation with students. For UPP, it is crucial that these types of spaces are deliberately designed, not housed in spare space left over from the design phase.
