The £13 million Cardiff School of Management building is the first phase of a redevelopment master-plan for Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Llandaff Campus. It provides purpose designed accommodation for a total of 160 staff and approximately 2000 students totaling approximately 7800 square metres of floor space.

The Client required a ‘signature’ building of high architectural quality and that the design addressed sustainability issues and achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Since completion, student applications have risen 25% against a national average of 4% for similar courses and the University tops the UK league tables for student satisfaction.

The building has also become an extremely popular events and conference venue with year one revenue rising to £20m against an investment value of just £21m. The award winning building was delivered ahead of programme and under budget at just £1600/sqm. The design comprises accommodation set either side of an atrium space which runs the length of the building. A three storey wing houses the main entrance, administration area, the hospitality suite and has staff workspaces at upper floors. On the opposite side of the atrium, a four storey wing houses the majority of the teaching spaces. The atrium will provide the social heart of the building. A feature staircase rises in a continuous line from ground to third floor and bridges at each level connect the two sides of the building. A 200 seat lecture theatre cantilevers over the main entrance below, positioned on the main axis of approach through the campus and provides a dramatic visual stop-end to this key vista.

This (Cardiff School of Management) is an incredibly important project for everyone involved, with a high profile and intended to set a new bench mark in standards of design, quality and delivery. I was also extremely keen to introduce a Partnering and collaborative ethos into all project procurement having seen the benefits that this brings.
I am pleased that ASL have not only come up with some very exciting design proposals but have also fully embraced the collaborative approach that was so important to us. They have been very proactive in helping to bring together the sometimes disparate requirements of the various end user groups and demonstrate a good balance between pragmatic flexibility and safeguarding important design concepts, which should lead to a highly successful outcome.

David Benson – Head of Estates, UWIC