Hendy House, located on Christchurch Road in Bournemouth was originally constructed in the 1950s and housed retail units on the ground floor with leisure uses above. In 2023 the building was demolished and redeveloped into a large student accommodation complex. The new development is a seven-storey building with 213 student flats, including studios and multi-bedroom clusters. It will also include amenities such as a gym and communal areas.

The project aimed to address the growing demand for purpose-built student accommodation in Bournemouth, which has a substantial student population

Valcan Ceramapanel Fired Clay panels were specified for the Hendy House project as they’re not only non-combustible and achieve an A1 fire-rating to BS EN 13501-1, but they are also coated with an acrylic treatment, making them graffiti resistant, perfect for urban areas. They are also environmentally friendly and sustainable, as all our products are recyclable.

In addition to their fire safety, anti-graffiti and sustainability features, Ceramapanel panels were installed using our VitraFix aluminium subframe system - VitraFix has been tested within all Valcan’s BS8414 tests achieving BR135 compliance and successfully tested to CWCT standards at a safety loading of 3600pa with our panel systems.

The panels were fabricated off-site with the clips pre-installed to the back to make installation easier and more efficient. The 10mm thick Ceramapanel panels was installed using a secret fix, providing a clean and seamless finish. VitraFix VF3 brackets were installed to the back of the panels, which were then secured onto the VitraFix VF3 rails, ensuring a secure and durable installation.

The newly constructed student accommodation building is not only modern and stylish, but it also significantly enhances the overall aesthetic and vibrancy of the area. The upper facades contemporary design is also safe and compliant.