The Refinery Student Accommodation

For The Refinery, a new build student accommodation complex in Leeds, Jasper Sanders + Partners looked to create a fresh and contemporary interior design scheme that underpinned the site’s historic significance. With a variety of activity zones, Forbo Flooring Systems’ Tessera Cloudscape carpet tiles and Sarlon acoustic sheet vinyl were specified, helping to create a fully integrated and striking space that meets the demands of modern student living. The Refinery was a winning project in the Fly Forbo 2020/21 competition.

Built on a former industrial site near Leeds City Centre, The Refinery is a 397-room student accommodation complex providing high quality apartments, shared living spaces and a whole host of amenities. Developed by Gregory Property Group and operated by Fresh Student Living, the interior of The Refinery was designed by Jasper Sanders + Partners (JS+P), who worked alongside AHR Architects and GMI Construction to deliver this market leading student accommodation project for specialist investor client, Curlew Capital.

Jasper Sanders, Design Director at Jasper Sanders + Partners, said: “We took a holistic approach to the interior design and the end goal was to ensure that we were creating a single building experience. The Refinery takes its visual cues from the building’s rich industrial heritage. Once a factory for the manufacture of machinery for the spinning of flax, hemp, jute and similar fibres, this is subtly reflected in both the external and internal aspects of the building. We used graphics, finishes and textures that reference the process of weaving yarn into fabric, creating a bold visual identity for the building.

A spokesperson at Fresh Student Living commented: “We’re thrilled that The Refinery has won the Fly Forbo award. The interior captures the level of luxury of student accommodation that today’s residents desire. Working with the heritage of the building brings real flow through the spaces and The Refinery’s interior encapsulates this brilliantly. Everything was created to a high specification with students’ wants and needs at the forefront. From the welcoming entrance, to each individual flat and room, The Refinery is the ideal accommodation for students to enjoy.”