Gilltown Skyline Student Accommodation

Gilltown Skyline set out to create a new student community in the heart of Bournemouth, delivered against a demanding programme and a busy construction backdrop.

The challenge was not simply building upwards. It was making sure design, construction and logistics all moved together at the right pace.

Keeping a complex project moving

We supported the project before and after contract, providing project management, employer’s agent, cost management and principal designer services throughout delivery.

From early stages, we managed design coordination and procurement while helping shape the Employer’s Requirements that guided the project through construction. As work progressed, we continued regular site involvement, chairing meetings, tracking progress and helping teams work through issues as they arose.

Slipform construction for the lift cores and prefabricated bathroom pods became simple ideas that made a big difference. These approaches helped reduce programme risks and support a faster build process.

Navigating a busy city centre site

Delivering a 16-storey building in a live town centre brought challenges beyond the site boundary. At one point, five active construction sites sat along Oxford Road at the same time.

Traffic management and site safety needed careful planning. Supported by our principal designer team, neighbouring contractors held regular coordination meetings to share movement plans and discuss site-specific risks.

Bringing people together early helped avoid problems later. It also created a clearer picture of how each site could operate alongside the others.

Creating a new place for student life

The completed building delivers much more than bedrooms. Alongside accommodation, students now have shared spaces to study, meet and unwind, including a sky lounge with views stretching towards the New Forest and the Isle of Wight.

The project met its demanding completion date without losing sight of quality at handover. Strong relationships continued after completion too, helping support a smooth transition into occupation and ongoing building management.