Now Student Living appointed us to transform the tired and underused amenity spaces at Bailey Fields, a 500-bed PBSA scheme in Sheffield. Occupancy rates were under pressure, and the brief was clear: inject energy, create identity, and make the building somewhere students genuinely wanted to live.

With residents arriving from across the world, Bailey Fields needed to feel more than accommodation. It needed to feel like home.

We began by listening. Student feedback revealed a demand for better social, fitness and cultural spaces. In response, we reconfigured underutilised areas to introduce private dining rooms, an expanded gym, and dedicated workout studios.

To elevate the offer further, we designed a new-build extension with a rooftop terrace overlooking Sheffield and the Peak District beyond. Here, we created dedicated Mahjong and karaoke rooms—spaces shaped around rituals of connection and shared experience.

Each area was given its own character, unified by a rich and vibrant palette. Working with Elegant Clutter, we developed bespoke wallpapers blending traditional Chinese art motifs with Sheffield landmarks. A subtle grid pattern, inspired by Mahjong tiles, weaves throughout—creating cohesion while celebrating cultural identity. The transformed spaces feel welcoming and sociable, supporting friendships and informal support networks. By listening carefully and designing with empathy, we helped turn underused rooms into a vibrant student community—one that resonates with the people who call it home.