For generations of students at the University of Warwick, the Claycroft Residences have been more than just buildings—they’ve been a home away from home. Built between 1994 and 1997, these three accommodation blocks have quietly stood the test of time, witnessing everything from all-nighters before exams to late-night kitchen chats, heartbreaks, new friendships, and the occasional fire alarm at 3 a.m.
Now, after three decades of service, they’re finally getting a well-earned makeover.
Morgan Sindall Construction has officially broken ground on a major renovation project at the University of Warwick’s main campus in Coventry. The target: all three blocks of the Claycroft Residences, which together span 17,000 square meters and house 679 bedrooms, mostly arranged into eight-person flats.
The upgrades aren’t just cosmetic. This is a full-scale renovation designed to bring the aging buildings up to modern safety, comfort, and design standards. The planning phase alone took 14 months, reflecting the complexity—and importance—of the work ahead.
Top of the to-do list: replacing the aging roof coverings, fully rewiring the electrical systems, and installing brand-new fire safety systems throughout all three buildings. Every bathroom will be stripped down and refitted with new flooring, modern sanitaryware, and fresh decoration. Bedrooms will be refreshed with new paint and finishes, and communal spaces will be updated with durable vinyl tile flooring and sleek metal suspended ceilings that boost both style and longevity. Even the laundrette in Claycroft 1 will be expanded—finally addressing one of the most common student gripes.
Jacob Williams, a Nottingham University graduate who once lived in a dorm mid-renovation, still remembers the frustration. “There were days when we had to book shower slots or wear noise-cancelling headphones just to study. It was awful,” he said. “So planning around the academic calendar is everything.”
And that’s exactly what Morgan Sindall is doing. By coordinating closely with university staff, they’ve mapped out a phased approach that stretches from July 2025 to September 2026. Only one block will be closed for renovation at a time, leaving the other two operational. This means students can be relocated between blocks with minimal disruption to their studies and daily routines.
The first block—home to 266 bedrooms—is expected to reopen in November 2025, with the remaining two following in sequence.
What makes this project especially efficient is the use of Scape Venture, a procurement framework tailored to privately funded construction and consultancy work. It allowed Morgan Sindall to collaborate with stakeholders early in the process, offering input on feasibility, cost planning, scheduling, and logistics. This collaborative start meant fewer surprises and smoother progression into the on-site phase.
As one project manager at Morgan Sindall put it, “This isn’t a case of finishing the design and then figuring out how to build it. We were all at the table from the start—engineers, architects, university staff—working it out together.” That early teamwork is becoming the gold standard in UK construction, especially for complex, high-stakes projects like this one.
In a few years’ time, a Warwick student named Emma might look back on her time in Claycroft with fondness—not just for the friends she made or the lectures she ran to, but for the comfort and cleanliness of her dorm. “The place had just been renovated,” she might say. “The rooms were bright, the bathrooms didn’t leak, and the laundry room was big enough for all of us. It really felt like home.”
In the end, this isn’t just a refurbishment—it’s a reboot. A quiet architectural promise that the next generation of students will inherit a space that’s as modern and welcoming as the university itself.
Because in university life, a dorm room is never just a room. It’s the first place you learn to live on your own, and maybe, just maybe, grow into the person you’re meant to be.