Hope University, Liverpool
Case Study
Laying the Groundwork
AAC Flat Roofing was appointed as Principal Contractor for the re-roofing and renovation of the Austin and Angela student halls at Hope University’s campus.
The existing mineral surface bitumen felt roofs were approaching the end of their serviceable life, prompting the university to undertake a proactive refurbishment before any major water ingress occurred. This early intervention allowed for a planned overlay solution, avoiding costly structural repairs and minimising disruption to students and staff.
As Principal Contractor, solid foundations were laid by:
- Designing an insulation scheme to achieve the target thermal performance.
- Developing a site-specific Construction Phase and Health & Safety Plan to meet both HSE and client standards.
- Performing windload calculations to ensure the right balance and type of fixings across the roof.
Collaboration That Made the Difference
As Principal Contractor, AAC Flat Roofing worked closely with the university’s project team to coordinate roofing works alongside other refurbishment activities.
This included managing health and safety, logistics, and on-site scheduling to ensure the project ran efficiently within the live university environment.
By engaging with Protan for technical support and specification design, we ensured that the system chosen provided long-term waterproofing performance, thermal efficiency, and aesthetic improvement to the halls of residence.
Scope of Works
- Overlay of existing bitumen felt roof coverings identified as suitable for refurbishment.
- Installation of PIR insulation to improve thermal performance.
- Application of a fully bonded Protan single-ply membrane system.
- Protan-coated metal edge trims installed to all roof perimeters.
- Standing seam profiles applied to enhance the architectural appearance of the sloping roofs.
Overcoming Challenges
Delivering a major refurbishment project within a live university campus required careful planning to ensure minimal disruption to daily activities. The main challenges included:
- Maintaining safe access routes for staff and students during the works.
- Tight deadlines to ensure halls were available for students once the new term started.
- Coordinating multiple trades operating within a confined site area.
- Restricted lifting equipment access due to building locations, requiring carefully scheduled deliveries.
- Managing weather conditions to maintain progress across several roof areas.
Through proactive communication and flexible scheduling, our team successfully mitigated these challenges and maintained steady progress throughout the programme.
How We Delivered
AAC Flat Roofing’s team managed the entire process — from technical design through to installation and completion — ensuring the project exceeded the client’s expectations.
Key aspects of delivery included:
- Comprehensive site management under AAC’s Principal Contractor role.
- Close liaison with Protan to ensure compliance with manufacturer requirements.
- Quality assurance inspections at each stage of installation.
- Detailed finishing work to ensure the standing seam features provided both functionality and visual appeal.
- Comprehensive electronic testing to guarantee performance before handover.
The Outcome
- 20-year manufacturer and AAC-backed warranty providing peace of mind.
- Full inspection and approval by the manufacturer.
- Compliance with Building Regulations.
- Extension of contract to manage window replacement and remediation work.
- A modern, low-maintenance roofing system designed for long-term durability.
The client was delighted with the result and has since proposed similar solutions for future projects, further demonstrating confidence in AAC Flat Roofing’s expertise and delivery standards.