Exeter University East Park, Exeter

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus—renowned for its woodlands, lakes, and botanical gardens—the East Park Student Accommodation development delivers nearly 1,200 high-quality student residences across 11 tower blocks. Located off Rennes Drive, this ambitious new-build project is the university’s largest on-campus accommodation scheme in nearly a decade.

The site presented a unique set of challenges, including a 35-metre elevation change across the sloping terrain. The architectural vision, led by Stride Treglown, required a façade solution that was not only non-combustible and compliant with the latest fire safety regulations, but also sympathetic to the natural surroundings of the Devon landscape.

To meet these demands, over 12,500m² of Valcan Ceramapanel A1 Fibre Cement Cladding was specified. The panels, finished in the Natural Textures Raw 1041 Linen tone, were installed in 8mm thickness using colour-matched rivets for a clean, cohesive appearance.

Ceramapanel’s is classified A1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1 made it an ideal choice for the varying building heights, which range from 3 to 8 storeys.

ARKUS Consultancy played a pivotal role in the success of the project, providing expert façade consultancy services throughout the design and construction phases. Their responsibilities included detailed technical reviews, system performance assessments, and ensuring compliance with fire safety and building regulations. ARKUS worked closely with the design and delivery teams to coordinate the façade strategy, optimise detailing, and support the integration of Ceramapanel into the complex building geometry. Their input was instrumental in achieving a robust, code-compliant façade that met both aesthetic and performance expectations.

The result is a visually striking, durable, and safe student living environment that harmonises with its surroundings while setting a benchmark for future campus developments.

For East Park the Ceramapanel finish chosen was the Natural Textures Raw, 1041 Linen in 8mm thick panels riveted back using colour matched fixings.

Ceramapanel is a compressed fibre cement panel which achieves A1 to BS EN 13501-1. It is a non-combustible panel which comes in a wide range of colours and finishes. Thanks to an A1 fire rating, Ceramapanel is a panel that can be used anywhere due to its fire properties, this can be ground-level buildings or high rise tower blocks.