We had a fantastic night at the first High Achievers Evening in the new Fitzalan High School, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord. Congratulations to everyone involved in this event, and to the excellent results achieved by pupils, teachers and wider staff team. 33 pupils received awards across years 11, 12, & 13 for their outstanding results and exceptional grades.

We are honoured to have sponsored these awards and look forward to developing our ongoing legacy commitment with the school in the years to come.

Tim Young, Director and Head of Education at Austin-Smith:Lord said “We’re delighted to be able to support Fitzalan high School in recognizing and rewarding the achievements of the pupils, which are truly exceptional.

We’re really proud to have played a part in bringing the project to reality – it’s been a hugely important project for us as a local architectural practice, and one we were fully committed to giving our best on.

Our own mission is to ‘enhance life and environments by design’ and what better way to demonstrate that than in helping to deliver this project and provide future children with fantastic learning opportunities, raise aspirations and inspire!

Martin Roe, Executive Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said “Our team at Austin-Smith:Lord were super excited to be able to attend the first event in the new building and look forward to a long association with the school and supporting Fitzalan into the future. Exciting times!”

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to George Chatzikostis, who recently joined our Landscape Architecture team.

George has a strong background in education-focused projects and has shaped external spaces for many schools, taking concepts from design to reality. He has also left his mark on numerous residential and commercial projects, offering innovative design solutions with a practical mindset.

George has a keen eye for detailing and is dedicated to problem-solving in challenging schemes.

Welcome to the Creative Collective, George.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s CEO, Graham Ross, has been appointed as an Honorary Professor at University of Dundee. Graham will be working with staff and students of Architecture and Urban Planning at Duncan Of Jordanstone College Art & Design.

Dundee is the UKs’ 1st and only UNESCO City of Design. This global designation as a Creative City acknowledges Dundee’s thriving design sector, its rich design heritage and a commitment to apply design and design thinking to enhance the city’s quality of life. Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design is the creative heart of the University of Dundee. The School of Architecture and Urban Planning at DJCAD was ranked 1st in Scotland for Architecture in the Guardian Complete University Guide 2020.

Graham said, “It’s a privilege to be asked to fulfil this role. I hope I can help progress positive initiatives with the University and external partners during my tenure.

This appointment reflects on team work undertaken in collaboration with my colleagues at Austin-Smith:Lord and our many respected collaborators, and strengthens our practice’s relationship with Higher Education.

Promoting Lifelong Learning and Knowledge Sharing are amongst our key guiding principles at Austin-Smith:Lord. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn by combining practice and research in collaboration with colleagues at the University, at Austin-Smith:Lord and in the wider design community.”

Kirsty Macari, Co-Head of Undergraduate Programmes (Architecture and Urban Planning / Contemporary Art Practice) DJCAD, University of Dundee, said “DJCAD is delighted to have Graham join us as an Honorary Professor. His knowledge and passion across not just architecture and planning but to the wider design thinking community is valued and we look forward to collaborating over the coming years.“

Plans for University of Gloucestershire’s exciting new £5.8million digital and cyber hub are now available to view, with the consultation underway.

 The new facilities, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord, will provide students with a learning space that resembles as closely as possible the environments they will experience in real-life scenarios while working in industry.

 With funding from the Office for Students (OfS), the University will create the state-of-the-art teaching and learning space at its Park Campus in Cheltenham. Providing the latest digital and cyber technologies for students, the hub will be a centre of excellence for students, ensuring they graduate with the skills required locally and nationally.

Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed to help develop the University’s brief and provide the design for this hugely exciting project. You can now view the plans on the Cheltenham Borough Council planning portal here.

Representatives from Austin-Smith:Lord, the University and Kier Group – who have been appointed as the main contractor for the project – will also be available to show the plans and answer any questions at a drop-in session on Wednesday, 9 August in the Owen Building at Park Campus, Cheltenham, between 4.30pm and 7pm.

Neil Farquhar, Senior Architect at Austin-Smith:Lord said “Further to completing the highly successful Business School building at the Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester, we are delighted to be working again with colleagues at University of Gloucestershire to deliver the new digital and cyber hub at the Cheltenham Park Campus, providing architecture, landscape and interior design services. The project has great relevance to the developing digital and cyber industries in Cheltenham in particular and seeks to help fill the skills gap across the whole of the country.”

The outdated Reynolds building is set to be demolished in Autumn 2023 to make way for the new digital and cyber hub, subject to demolition permission being granted in August. Building work on the new centre is set to start in December 2023, subject to planning permission being granted in October.

A webpage has been set up where regular progress updates will be provided, including any movement on dates, FAQs, and news of any possible disruption to local residents. A quarterly newsletter for local residents is also planned.

The aim is for students studying traditional degrees (BSc/MSc/MEng), higher apprenticeships, professional short courses, Digital Skills Bootcamps, and new Higher Technical Qualifications to move into the new centre in Spring 2025.

The labs in the new centre will provide innovation testbeds for the application of advanced and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, blockchain, and cyber physical systems. These testbeds will be used as learning spaces for the development, and the delivery, of multi-disciplinary subjects such as HealthTech, EduTech, LegalTech and Bio-Informatics.

University of Gloucestershire Vice-Chancellor, Stephen Marston, said: “The redevelopment of the Reynolds Building will provide a new centre of excellence for digital technologies in the heart of Cheltenham, helping to address the UK-wide cyber skills gap by educating the computing and engineering leaders of the future.

“It will also build on the university’s existing links within the burgeoning cyber sector in Cheltenham and the South West, working with these partners to increase the appeal of STEM subjects, with a particular focus on making study and careers in this area more accessible and attractive to women and neurodivergent individuals, and raising aspiration in disadvantaged communities.

“Supporting a key economic priority locally and nationally, this new centre will help forge Cheltenham’s position as a world class hub for cyber and computing. I’d encourage people to come to the drop-in session to find out more, ask any questions and to feed back through the consultation.”

Congratulations Shakespeare North Playhouse, winner of Project of the Year (£20-50m).

Austin-Smith:Lord were a guest of Kier at the Construction News Awards on 13 July.

Fantastic Achievement!

We are delighted to announce that Matthew Wray and Huw Lewis have both achieved Certified Passive House Designer status, further strengthening our longstanding commitment to sustainable design.

Matthew, Senior Architect and Associate at Austin-Smith:Lord, has led the design for a number of key education projects, including the complex phased extension and refurbishment of Ysgol Bro Morgannwg in Barry, as well as higher education projects for University of South Wales and University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Huw, Senior Architect, has considerable experience in the design and delivery of school projects, and is currently leading the design for the new Fitzalan High School in Cardiff, due for completion this summer.

 

Our congratulations go to both of them!

Alloa Hub has been announced the winner of Stirling Society of Architects Sustainability Award.

Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed by Hub East Central to convert the former Alloa public convenience into a new Community Hub to enhance local identity and promote active travel such as walking, running and cycling.

The refurbishment demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability by retaining and upgrading a thermally poor energy-performing building with a deep retrofit approach that significantly improves the building’s thermal efficiency, transferring the building into a valuable decarbonised community asset with very low running costs. Furthermore, the travel hub discourages use of private vehicles and promotes health and wellbeing by encouraging outdoor activities that allow people to connect and appreciate nature.

The Hub was part of a wider ‘Living Alloa’ project, winner of the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ SURF Award; https://www.surf.scot/2022-surf-award-winners-announced/

It was also shortlisted alongside some strong competition in the recent RTPI Scotland ‘Best Project’ category: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/find-your-rtpi/rtpi-nations/scotland/scotland-awards-for-planning-excellence/

“Alloa Hub has been an excellent collaborative design and production process – re-purposing a building that was lying derelict into a community venue. It is now supported and operated by Alloa Hub Limited which is a charity and community benefit society, the first in Clackmannanshire and has been established through community shares purchased by local people and organisations. It has returned a public toilet to the town centre along with a new shower, and operates a shop, selling local producers’ product and active travel books and maps,  and a workshop which is rented out to local groups. It is also home to the Clackmannanshire Tapestry and is the starting journey for many new visitors to Alloa and the county. The building has been low cost to convert and proving to be efficient to operate for the charity and hugely beneficial for local people.” Anthea Coulter, Director Alloa Hub Limited

Oliver Goddard, Architect at Austin-Smith:Lord added “It is brilliant to see the Alloa Hub recognized for its strong commitment to Sustainability.  This deep retrofit has delivered a healthy and inclusive environment that is thriving with social activity that is increasing high street footfall, promoting active travel and investing profits from the sale of its local products back into the local community.  Overall it is a valuable precedent for how carbon appropriate solutions and a fabric-first approach can save buildings from demolition whilst generating economic activity and bolstering social cohesion.” 

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Project Team:

Client: Hub East Central

Architect and Landscape Architect: Austin-Smith:Lord

Structures: Bayne Stevenson Associates Ltd

Services: David R Murray & Associates

Contractor: Marshall Construction Ltd

Work has started on site to transform Old College in Aberystwyth into a vibrant cultural and creative centre for Wales. Lawray Architects is leading the multi-disciplinary team which includes Austin-Smith:Lord (Conservation Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture), Hoare Lee (MEP) and Mann Williams (Structural and Civil Engineering).

The distinctive and architecturally significant 19^th century building was the birthplace of the University of Wales. Detailed proposals will see the Grade I listed building and the adjacent Grade II listed villas transformed from an underused teaching facility into an exhibition centre, a place of learning and discovery, and a hub for creative business start-ups.

Principal contractor Andrew Scott Ltd has started the first phase of work that will see the Grade II listed Georgian Villas on the seafront restored and completely refurbished.

Further phases will follow with the construction of a new atrium space including a multi-use foyer with new entrances that will create a sense of arrival and provide access to the main spaces, linking the seven floors of Old College via the new stairs and lifts. The new cultural centre will be supported with a 4* boutique hotel, conference facilities, wedding and event spaces and a cantilevered function room over the villas.

For the first time in its history the building will be accessible to all and will offer inspiring new shared facilities and resources for the local and academic communities, and visitors from around the world.

Backed by the Welsh Government, Old College is one of the most ambitious educational, heritage, cultural and community projects in Wales.  The project has been awarded £11.1m by the National Lottery Heritage Fund along with funding from Welsh Government, the European Regional Development Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, the Coastal Communities Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, the Joy Welch Educational Charitable Trust, the Foyle Foundation, the Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity and individual donations.

In all, the redevelopment will provide spaces for activities and events across seven floors and 143 rooms, including 10 rooms with capacity ranging from 60 up to 220 people, and is expected to attract 200,000 visitors annually putting it on par with major tourist destinations in Wales.

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PROJECT TEAM

Client: University of Aberystwyth

Lead Consultant: Lawray Architects

Principal Designer: Lawray CDM

Conservation Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture: Austin-Smith:Lord

 MEP / Acoustics / Fire: Hoare Lea

QS / Project Manager: Blake Morgan

Planning Consultant: Asbri Planning

Design and Exhibition Consultants: Mather & Co

The recently opened Alloa Hub has been shortlisted in the Stirling Society of Architects Awards.

Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed by Hub East Central to convert the former Alloa public convenience into a new Community Hub to enhance local identity and promote active travel such as walking, running and cycling.

The refurbishment demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability by retaining and upgrading a thermally poor energy-performing building with a deep retrofit approach that significantly improves the building’s thermal efficiency, transferring the building into a valuable decarbonised community asset with very low running costs. Furthermore, the travel hub discourages use of private vehicles and promotes health and wellbeing by encouraging outdoor activities that allow people to connect and appreciate nature.

The Hub now features a large flexible space, a workshop, an accessible WC available to the public as well as a shop sell­ing local and handmade crafts and the exhibition of a hand stitched tapestry. External bike parking and a Forth E-Bike docking station were also provided for cycle training lessons.

The tapestry was produced by over 40 volunteer stitchers, working as a team through the pandemic. Based on a design by Andrew Crummy, each of the five panels depicts a local Clackmannanshire trade, bringing the history and culture of the area to life.

Adjacent to the tapestry at a low level height for children is a viewing panel that exhibits the use of sheep’s wool insulation. This intervention was installed in attempt to start dialogue and spark interest of the net-zero challenges of today with the younger generations.

We’re delighted this project has helped contribute to the rejuvenation of the town centre, with Living Alloa recently recognised in the SURF awards: https://www.surf.scot/2022-surf-award-winners-announced/

Oliver Goddard, Senior Architect at Austin-Smith:Lord said “The recently opened Hub has preserved and revitalised meaningful life in to mundane building stock whilst fostering community cohesion and depicting a strong sense of identity. We are delighted to see it recognised in these awards”

On 8th July a team from our Cardiff studio will be taking part in the ‘Hike for Llamau’ at Bennau Brycheiniog. They will be hiking the 6.5km circular trail up Pen-Y-Fan raising much-needed funds to help eradicate homelessness for young people and vulnerable women.

Taking part are Kate Thomas, James Morris, Lee Griffiths, Olivia Laxton, Gill Spencer-Lewis, Amy Hart, Matt Wray, Lauren Page and Jonathan Jones.

Please support if you can by donating at the link below 🙏

https://www.justgiving.com/page/austin-smith-lord-ltd-hikeforllamau

Good luck team!