Category: News

Following our RIBA award winning School of Management at Cardiff Metropolitan University, completed in 2010, Austin-Smith:Lord has been awarded the second major phase of development at the Llandaff campus.

The practice has been commissioned to design a new school of art and design reflecting the school’s dynamic and fundamentally creative nature.  To be completed and open for September 2014, the total estimated project investment is £14 million.  The new facility will bring together fine art, ceramics, product design, illustration, making, graphic communication, textiles and architectural design and technology.

Tim Young said, “This is a very exciting project and a further opportunity for us to work with a creative and forward thinking client which recognises the importance of high quality design.  By adopting a collaborative approach we have already begun to develop ideas that will lead to a flexible, highly sustainable and inspirational building that will greatly add to the student experience at the Llandaff Campus.”

Image credits to Morley Von Sternberg.

Saxton Parade and Drive, Leeds has received a commendation at the 2012 Civic Trust Awards. This reinvention of two redundant 1950’s social housing blocks on the fringe of Leeds City centre, has transformed these buildings and their surroundings. The design is intelligent, sophisticated and witty. Shared external spaces are well handled and attractive. The original floor plate has been extended to improve the capacity and efficiency of the layout and has allowed for a series of recessed balconies that punctuate the rhythm of the elevations. The improvement to the area since the completion of works is clear to see and has had a positive impact on the local community and surrounding areas. Link to Civic Trust Awards Website: https://www.civictrustawards.org.uk/winners/2012/CTA006730/

The Strategic Coordination Centre at Llangunnor near Carmarthen received two awards at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Cymru Awards on 17^th February.  The project won regional awards for the Best Sustainable Building and Best Commercial Building over £5M and will now be entered in the national LABC awards.  The award reflects a successful collaborative relationship between the contractor, client and design team.  The contractor, WRW construction, appointed Austin-Smith:Lord to design Ffwrnes School in Llanelli following the SCC project. Project managers, Mott McDonald and the client, Dyfed Powys Police have also indicated that they are keen to work with Austin-Smith:Lord on future projects.