Centre Court

Centre Court is a landmark 790-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) development in the heart of Nottingham – transforming a conventional build-to-rent framework into a thriving student community.

At a time when student loneliness and mental health are pressing concerns, community and resilience are embedded at every level of the design. The interiors are conceived as a modern “clubhouse” – a central hub where every resident can feel part of a wider community.

Double-height spaces, glazed walkways and a variety of curated communal areas encourage interaction, while more private zones provide calm and focus for study, reflection, and rest. This careful layering ensures students can find both vibrancy and respite, reflecting the rhythms of academic life.

Lifestyle facilities reinforce this ethos, with a padel court, yoga studio, gym, roof terrace, and landscaped outdoor areas integrated into the daily routine of residents. Inspiration from the site’s lace-making heritage and Paul Smith’s iconic style informs a material palette that blends timeless sophistication with youthful energy. The result is an environment that enriches both personal and academic journeys while setting a new benchmark for PBSA design in the city.

Centre Court’s value lies in its ability to balance human-centred design with commercial success, creating a student living environment that delivers for every stakeholder.

For students, the scheme provides more than just a place to live — it offers choice, individuality, and a sense of belonging. Over 120 bespoke room types were created, ensuring no two living experiences are alike and that residents can find a space that reflects their personality. Amenities cater to every mood and rhythm of student life, from energetic gatherings in double-height social spaces to quiet reflection in wellbeing rooms and study zones. This variety not only improves wellbeing but also fosters retention, as students are more likely to remain in a community that feels both personal and supportive.

For the operator, the design emphasises efficiency, resilience, and long-term performance. Layouts were carefully planned to streamline operations, from smooth parcel collection to the ability for staff to activate amenity spaces with student events. Materials were selected for durability and lifecycle value, reducing maintenance demands. The graded offer of studios and en-suites allows for flexibility in pricing and marketing, strengthening lettings potential while broadening the scheme’s appeal to a wide demographic.

For the client, the design unlocked hidden commercial value at every stage. Forgotten corners were transformed into rentable spaces, quirky layouts were developed to add distinctiveness, and amenities were elevated to set a new benchmark in Nottingham’s student housing market. The team worked closely with pricing strategies and valuations to ensure the scheme maximised its Gross Development Value, delivering an uplift of 2.5–3.5% (over £5m). By identifying additional revenue streams, introducing cost-efficient supply partners, and optimising layouts, the project has been secured as Olympian’s first retained PBSA asset and made a viable asset to anchor the launch of a new brand of luxury student accomodation.

For Nottingham’s student economy, Centre Court strengthens the city’s appeal as a place to study and live. A strong social and wellbeing-focused offer differentiates the scheme in a competitive market, anchoring the launch of a new premium student accommodation brand. In doing so, it supports the city’s wider higher education sector, reinforcing Nottingham as a destination of choice for both students and investors.

From the outset, the project overturned the constraints of a conventional build-to-rent framework, strategically reorienting every bedroom towards the nearest social hub. This painstaking process resulted in over 120 distinct room types, ensuring that no space felt anonymous and every student felt connected to the wider community. This bold reconfiguration laid the foundation for a living environment that actively promotes interaction while respecting individuality.

The amenity offer was conceived not as a series of add-ons, but as the heartbeat of the scheme. Double-height lounges, glazed walkways and flexible event spaces create moments of visibility and connection, while smaller breakout rooms and wellbeing zones provide balance and respite. Fitness facilities, a yoga studio, and a professional padel court extend this into recreation and wellness, ensuring the student experience is holistic and layered. Roof terraces and landscaped courtyards bring natural light and greenery into daily life, further enhancing wellbeing.

Visually, the interiors carry equal weight in shaping impact. Inspired by Nottingham’s textile heritage and the playful sophistication of Paul Smith, the palette layers natural stone, oak, walnut and earthy tones with bursts of colour and texture. The result is a home that feels both refined and welcoming — a space that supports study, energises social life, and instils pride in its residents. In combining material warmth with strategic spatial planning, Centre Court sets a new benchmark for PBSA design in Nottingham.

Sustainability at Centre Court is approached holistically, integrating environmental, social, and economic resilience.

Social sustainability was the project’s foundation. By designing spaces that nurture connection, belonging, and wellbeing, the scheme actively combats isolation and mental health challenges. This has created a genuine ecosystem of support that strengthens resilience within the student community.

Economic sustainability is embedded through durability, adaptability, and efficiency. Long-life finishes and modular elements reduce waste over the building’s lifecycle, while layouts and amenities are designed to ensure long-term demand. By combining responsible material choices with socially restorative and operationally resilient design, Centre Court provides a sustainable economic model for the future of student living.

Environmental measures are deeply integrated into the scheme. Landscaped courtyards, roof terraces, and green roofs expand habitats, mitigate heat-island effects, and improve air quality while giving students daily access to nature. Planting was carefully selected for resilience, seasonal variety, and contribution to local ecological networks, creating outdoor spaces that are both restorative and environmentally beneficial. The project also embraced the circular economy, taking part in initiatives such as Rockcycle®, which returned surplus insulation from the site back into production rather than disposal, and by upcycling reclaimed items to create distinctive décor. Responsible sourcing underpins the ff&e, with FSC-certified laminates, recycled-content flooring, and fabrics from sustainable suppliers chosen to balance durability, aesthetics, and environmental performance.

Centre Court represents a step-change in student accommodation, proving that wellbeing, community, and sustainability can define the next generation of PBSA. By transforming inherited constraints into opportunities, the design team delivered a place where individuality is celebrated, resilience is nurtured, and every student feels at home.

More than just housing, Centre Court is a thriving ecosystem that enriches student life while contributing lasting value to Nottingham’s academic, social, and urban fabric.