Valerian is a premium purpose-built student accommodation development in York, which has transformed a brownfield site into a modern student hub. Built across a series of three, four, and five-storey buildings, the scheme offers high-specification studios and apartments.
Project Details
Project ff&e was appointed by GMI to design, supply, and install a complete furniture package across 133 studios and apartments. Our scope included the installation of fitted kitchens alongside a bedroom furniture package featuring desk chairs, mattresses, mirrors, and armchairs. Additionally, we supplied and installed all bespoke furniture for the building’s communal amenity spaces, ensuring a consistent look and feel throughout the entire development.
Operational Delivery
The project was delivered over a 16-week programme. On-site operations were overseen by a dedicated Contracts Manager, Site Manager, and Site Supervisor, supported by an average weekly team of four fitters and four labourers.
Independent external health and safety audits were conducted monthly throughout our works. Close collaboration between our project, logistics, and installation teams allowed us to maintain a smooth delivery schedule without compromising on the finish of the residential or communal spaces.
Logistics & Access Management
The site’s complex logistics layout and the scale of certain furniture items presented a potential bottleneck. To prevent access restrictions later in the schedule, our team reviewed the installation sequencing during the pre-construction phase. We strategically brought forward the delivery and installation of all oversized items, ensuring everything was moved into the building efficiently without impacting the wider programme timescale or risking damage to the finishes.
Sustainability & Community Impact
Delivering social value was a core priority for the project team. Working in partnership with GMI, we arranged the donation of approximately 10 tonnes of timber pallets to a local charity, which repurposed the timber for community initiatives, including park improvements.
Following practical completion, surplus furniture was donated to a local youth boxing gym to upgrade their facilities. These initiatives successfully diverted usable materials from the waste stream while supporting local community groups.
Client: Gregory Property Group / Urbium Capital
Operator: Mezzino
Main Contractor: GMI
Architect: CSP Architects
Photography: David Lindsay
