Towering student flats in Coventry

 Coventry is not too dissimilar from Loughborough in that it also has a lot of new student developments. Like Loughborough, Coventry is a university city, so all those students need somewhere to live while they study. So here are some photos of some of Coventry's student residences, along with some vital statistics. All the photos were taken this June unless otherwise stated.

1.

Name: Arundel House/Whitefriars Student Accommodation

Completed: September 2020

Architects: O'Connell East

Rooms: 778

Floors: 13-17

First up is Arundel House, a favourite of mine, located at the end of Whitefriars Lane next to the Ringway Whitefriars. It is also known as the Whitefriars Student Accommodation, named after a friary whose remains can be seen on the other side of the Ringway Whitefriars, which the friary also gave its name to. It was built on land previously occupied by the Coventry Boys and Girls Club, which moved into new facilities inside the development in 2019.

As seen from Cox Street.

From this angle these flats have a certain dramatic appearance!

As seen from Gosford Street.

As seen from below Ringway Whitefriars.

2.

Name: Elliott's Yard

Completed: Later this year

Architects: 

Rooms: 200

Floors: 17

This development on the corner of Gulson Road and London Road is named after Elliott's Car Accessories, which dated back to 1908 and was the first business to sell petrol in Coventry. Later a garage with a speciality of modifying cars, the business closed in 2018.

3.

Name: Axo/Paradise Student Village

Completed: September 2019

Architects: Fraser Brown Mackenna

Rooms: 893

Floors: 14

This colossal development on the corner of London road and Paradise Street is inspired by the monumental post-war building designs seen in the city centre. It's another of my favourite blocks of flats in Coventry.

4.

Name: Unnin Infinity/Parkside Infinity

Completed: c. 2021

Architects: Robert Partington & Partners

Rooms: 502

Floors: 20

Sandwiched between Ringway St. John's and Parkside is Unnin Infinity, which was hailed as the tallest building in Coventry. (Towers Hall in Loughborough is 22 storeys tall, so take that, Coventry!) In November 2020 the Coventry Telegraph reported that the developer was temporarily letting out some rooms to private renters.

As seen from the footpath adjacent to Ringway St. John's.

As seen from Park Road.

5.

Name: Weaver Place

Completed: c. 2021

Architects: O’Connell East

Rooms: 1200

Floors: 20

Located on the corner of Lamb Street and Bishop Street on the northern side of the city centre.

As seen from Hales Street.

6.

Name: Vita Student Warwick

Completed: Last month (expected)

Architects: Fuse Studios

Rooms: 496

Floors: 14

In comparison to the other block-like flats popping up in Coventry, this one on Warwick Road is on the smaller end of the scale, with fewer than 500 rooms, but it's nice and curvy!

May 2022

7.

Name: Code Student Accommodation

Completed: 

Architects: Staniforth

Rooms: 1000

Floors: 22

Another building amongst the tallest of the tall in Coventry.

As seen from Priory Street, May 2022

Priory Street, with the Code halls toward the right

As seen from Fairfax Street

From the glass bridge, September 2019. (Yes, that time.) In the foreground is Pool Meadow Bus Station.

8.

Name: (Unite) Millennium View

Completed: August 2017

Architects: Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson

Rooms: 391

Floors: 11

Even smaller than Vita Student Warwick, at less than 400 rooms, this development on the corner of Hales Street and Trinity Street has a rather quirky leaning bit; according to the architects:

'the signature kink in the façade gives this building the iconic quality needed for such an important site, adding another jewel to the skyline of Coventry.'

I'd say they're right.

From Trinity Street, September 2019

From the glass bridge, September 2019

9.

Name: Trinity View

Completed: May 2019

Architects: Day Architectural

Rooms: 614

Floors: 20

As seen from the railway station in September 2019.

From Friargate

10.

Name: Study Inn - Collegiate Burges House

Completed: 2015 (renovated)

Architects: Unknown

Rooms: Unknown

Floors: 5

Study Inn's speciality seems to be converting old office blocks into student flats, such as this one on Ironmonger Row.

Here in Loughborough we have those former council offices on Lemyngton Street.

September 2019

11.

Name: Study Inn Student Village

Completed: 2015 (renovated)

Architects: 

Rooms: 307

Floors: 13

Formerly known as the AXA building, this building on Well Street is another example of a renovated Study Inn. Nearby on Corporation Street is Study Inn's HQ.

Seen from Millennium Place, September 2019.

12.

Name: Bishop Gate

Completed: 2018

Architects: Stride Treglown

Rooms: 725

Floors: 17

Apparently the first phase of a larger development, with the yet-to-commence second phase creating a further 402 rooms. The yellow and orange is a nice splash of colour... if only it was a bit more splashed with colour!

Seen from the glass bridge, September 2019.

After all this, you'll probably say, "What about Loughborough's student flats?" I, of course, will do one for Loughborough soon, or else it would be unfair.

Have a nice day!