A brand new carbon efficient hotel has opened its doors on The University of Nottingham’s award-winning main campus.

Costing £20 million, ‘The Orchard’ will feature a total of 220 bedrooms as well as meeting rooms, a roof garden, brasserie and gym. 

Completed by BAM Construction, the hotel was designed by RHWL Architects and won a competition held by the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

Energy-efficient measures that feature in the build include photovoltaic panels for the capture of solar energy. In addition to this the hotel has a green roof, a high performance building enveloped and eco-friendly lighting, heating and ventilation systems in order to minimise its carbon output.

To support its carbon-neutral claims, the building is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Pro-vice chancellor for environment and infrastructure at The University of Nottingham, Professor Karen Cox, said:

“The Orchard is the latest in a series of award-winning buildings developed on The University of Nottingham’s campuses, which have underlined our commitment to sustainable architecture and construction.”

The building was funded by the University of Nottingham and its design intends to emulate the environment around which it is set. The timber used represents the mature trees around campus and an undulating roof intends to mimic the hills that surround the hotel.

The 9,300 sq m hotel has also been designed to fit in with the De Vere Venues East Midlands Conference Centre, the building that sits next to the hotel. 

Corrie Jones, associate at the design winning firm RHWL, commented that ideas for the building took inspiration from theuniversity’s parkland setting.

“Our main aim was to provide a sensitive response, situating the hotel within the surrounding sloping grassland and minimising its impact both physically and environmentally, while still creating a striking building with a strong and defined entrance appropriate to a high profile leisure destination,” Mr Jones said.

He added: “The palette of materials throughout the building, including regional stone and extensive timber both externally and internally, is also designed to echo the surrounding environment and this filters right down to the detail of each bedroom and public area.”