SIMPSON have recently completed the construction of a new 118-bedroom hotel for Moxy Hotels in the centre of York.  Due to being located in a conservation area, an extensive archaeological dig was undertaken on site prior to any construction works. This led to the excavation of multiple artefacts, which are now on display at York Archaeological Trust.

As our first modular build project, the main structure of the hotel was constructed using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels that were manufactured off-site in Italy and transported to the UK. The en-suite bathroom pods were also pre-manufactured in blocks of two. The walls, floors and ceilings were also constructed using all pre-finished CLT panels individually craned into position at the same time as the pods. The roof was constructed using the same process. The ground floor is a traditional steel frame structure with a concrete floor and roof slab, and is designed to support the four floors of CLT structure. The external envelope is mainly clad in brickwork with zinc window surrounds and curtain walling to the atrium, and the pitched roof was clad in pre-formed zinc sheets.

Due to the city centre location, the logistics of the project were carefully planned, implemented, and managed onto site to ensure that disruption and inconvenience to the local residence and businesses was kept to a minimum.