St Edmunds Hall, Oxford

Dowds are thrilled to deliver the M&E package for SDC Builders Ltd on the new Passivhaus residential student campus at St Edmund Hall, one of University of Oxford‘s oldest colleges.

Officially opened on 2 October, the development provides 127 student bedrooms across three new Passivhaus-certified buildings,  Willis Building, Ashton House and Elliott House alongside the refurbishment of Dunbabin Lodge, a Victorian villa dating back to 1874.

The project demonstrates how building services engineering can support ambitious sustainability goals. With the three new buildings designed to achieve an energy demand around 70% lower than typical modern buildings, the development sets a strong example for energy-efficient student accommodation.

Dowds’ M&E package formed part of a wider approach to reducing operational energy use, incorporating solutions such as mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, low-carbon heating and photovoltaic panels.

Projects like this highlight the important role of building services in creating efficient, comfortable and more sustainable spaces for future generations.