Winvic has been shortlisted for the Innovation Award at the Property Week Student Accommodation Awards for its work delivering Crown Place Birmingham. Winvic is also a proud Category Partner of this year’s awards, sponsoring the Consultant of the Year Award.
Crown Place Birmingham is a 33-storey, 814-bed Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) development delivered by Winvic for repeat client Crown Student Living, with Yugo as operator. As Birmingham’s tallest PBSA scheme, the project presented significant technical and logistical challenges on a constrained city centre site, with boundary clearances as tight as 35mm. Innovation was embedded throughout the project, combining pioneering construction technology, digital solutions and sustainable delivery to improve safety, efficiency and quality.
Winvic became the first contractor in the UK to deploy the Skyline Cockpit remote tower crane system, allowing the crane to be operated from a ground-level cabin on site. The system improved operator working conditions, while military-grade cameras helped enhance crane efficiency by 25%.
The project also used HP SitePrint, a BIM-linked robotic setting-out system that printed coordinated floor layouts directly onto concrete slabs. More than 22,000m² of layouts were printed, enabling ten trade contractors to coordinate installations up to three times faster than traditional manual setting-out methods, while improving accuracy and reducing rework.
GAMMA AR technology was also used to overlay live BIM models onto the physical building, helping teams identify clashes before installation and improve quality.
Modern methods of construction were applied to the building envelope, with Crown Place marking Winvic’s first use of a unitised brick façade system. The 2,768 prefabricated panels were delivered complete with brickwork, windows and insulation, removing the need for traditional external scaffolding and supporting safer, faster installation.
Early collaboration with Crown Student Living and Yugo ensured operational requirements and student expectations were incorporated into the development. The completed scheme includes collaborative study areas, wellness facilities and a Sky Lounge with views across Birmingham, supporting interaction, wellbeing and community.
Sustainability was another key element, with an AmpD Enertainer battery energy system used to power construction activities. This removed the need for 7,645 litres of diesel per week, reducing emissions, noise and fuel spill risks.
More than 2,900 weeks of employment were created for Birmingham residents, while Winvic delivered 22 education engagement events for more than 400 students in collaboration with local education partners. Four T-Level students also progressed into Winvic apprenticeships.
Crown Place Birmingham was completed in December 2025 and has already received recognition at the CCS National Site Awards 2026, where it was awarded Most Considerate, the highest accolade in its category.
Mark Jones, Managing Director for Multi-Room at Winvic, said:“We’re delighted to be shortlisted for the Innovation Award. Crown Place Birmingham demonstrates how embracing new technologies, modern methods of construction and collaborative delivery can transform project outcomes. The real success lies not only in the innovations themselves, but in the positive impact they had on safety, quality, programme certainty and sustainability. This recognition is a testament to the commitment of the entire project team.”
The winners of the Property Week Student Accommodation Awards will be announced on 1 December at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.
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