Graham has initiated the construction of Belfast's first-ever Passivhaus-certified student accommodation on Dublin Road, commissioned by Queen's University Belfast.

The £46m ($61.13m) project aims to establish a new benchmark for sustainable student living in Northern Ireland.

The development, encompassing 459 student bedrooms, is designed to meet the rigorous energy efficiency and comfort standards that Passivhaus certification demands.

The concrete-framed building will feature brick and glazed facades and is being engineered to minimise energy consumption for heating and cooling.

This move will significantly cut carbon emissions and enhance occupant comfort. It will include mechanical ventilation heat recovery units and high-efficiency air-source heat pumps.

Spanning 16 storeys, the purpose-built managed student accommodation (PBMSA) will offer a mix of cluster apartments and studio units.

It will also provide amenities such as meeting rooms, communal and social spaces, group dining areas, laundry facilities, and dedicated staff office and welfare spaces.

Graham Building North region managing director Gary Holmes said: “Queen’s University has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing a high-quality, energy-efficient development and as a business which prioritises sustainable practices, we are pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor.”

Graham brings experience to the project, having recently completed Nelson Street's significant PBSA development in Belfast.

This Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology-rated project received a Green Apple Award for sustainability, partly due to the installation of Northern Ireland's first two blue roofs.

In a separate development, Graham began renovations this month on Edinburgh's historic Jenners building on Princes Street, with plans to transform it into a mixed-use facility.