The design of this new makerspace for The University of Exeter’s Business School takes the form of an open plan teaching space for 40-50 students.
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- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER CREATIVE QUADRANT SPACE
University of Exeter Creative Quadrant Space
The design of this new makerspace for The University of Exeter’s Business School takes the form of an open plan teaching space for 40-50 students. The building occupies a central courtyard location in the heart of the business school.
In accordance with the client’s brief, the design is simple and robust, with minimal interior finishes. The building is future-proof with respect to campus development and can be dismantled and moved if required.
The outside appearance of the building is a nod to the cutting-edge design teaching offered by the faculty.
In response to the local authority’s planning policy and the University’s environmental agenda, the project is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
CLIENT: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
COMPLETION: 2020
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
STRUCTURES: JOHN GRIMES
SERVICES: DRAC
COST CONSULTANT: WELLING PARTNERSHIP
£9 million Life Sciences Innovation Centre in Inverness for partnering Client consortium of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
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- LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTRE, INVERNESS
Life Sciences Innovation Centre
Austin-Smith:Lord were commissioned to design a £9 million Life Sciences Innovation Centre in Inverness for partnering Client consortium of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
The 2,700m2 building features office & agile working space, laboratories, sports health suite, knowledge exchange and innovation space.
The Inverness Campus is a new development zone located on the fringes
of Inverness city and is intended as an incubator for emerging life sciences technologies.
It features a mix of academic, business, research, community and sports facilities. The building is designed to be sustainable with a focus on creating a low energy healthy environment for research and innovation within a building envelope that achieves a high standard of insulation and thermal performance.
The new Life Sciences Innovation Centre was officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal in April 2023.
You can view a tour around the building at this link:
https://www.invernesscampus.co.uk/business-premises-and-land/lsic
COMPLETION: 2023
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, MASTERPLANNING, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: ROBERTSON NORTHERN
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: FAIRHURST
SERVICES: PICK EVERARD
Expansion of existing Welsh medium primary school
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- YSGOL GYNRADD GYMRAEG ABERDÂR
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdâr
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdâr is a Welsh medium primary school located on the outskirts of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. The existing school has been expanded as part of the Local Authority’s drive to increase the provision of Welsh medium education. The building was extended with a new two storey building and a single storey hall extension.
The two storey extension accommodates four new classrooms with associated cloak and WC facilities, a hall/studio and a new childcare facility. The hall extension creates a larger dining area to support the enlarged school.
The scheme also involved extensive external works and the creation of a new hard surface play area, nursery play area, staff parking area, and a new path linking the Welsh medium childcare facility to the existing pupil drop off.
COMPLETION: 2022
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: ANDREW SCOTT
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: BINGHAM HALL
SERVICES: SABA CONSULT
Interior Design services for phased refurbishment works at the University of South Wales Newport Campus
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- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES NEWPORT CAMPUS REFURBISHMENT
University of South Wales Newport Campus Refurbishment
Austin-Smith:Lord has been appointed by the University of South Wales to provide Interior Design services for phased refurbishment works at their Newport Campus. The scheme agenda is to shift the focus of the campus more to collaboration and social learning spaces, introduce specialist Hydra facilities, reimagine catering amenities, change to more agile staff workspace and improve staff & student wellbeing.
There is also a desire to increase engagement with the local community and businesses through reimagining facilities within the scheme. Post pandemic building use requirements have substantially changed, and the brief requirements have been collated by A-S:L through an extensive and successful consultation process with staff and students. The project is due for phased completion during 2023 & 2024.
CLIENT: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES
COMPLETION: 2024
SERVICE: INTERIORS
SECTOR: EDUCATION
New build, 240 pupil, one form entry primary and nursery school in Merthyr Tydfil
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- YSGOL Y GRAIG PRIMARY SCHOOL
Ysgol Y Graig Primary School
Ysgol Y Graig is a new build, 240 pupil, one form entry primary and nursery school in Merthyr Tydfil. The County Borough Council progressed the design to Stage 3, prior to appointing design and build contractor Kier. Austin-Smith:Lord worked in consultation with the Local Authority Architect to take the project through detailed design and construction.
The school achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and included PV panels, maximising daylight and a hybrid ventilation solution.
Located on a constricted and sloping urban site surrounded by residential streets, the school maximises the potential of the site, and provides high quality learning spaces arranged around a central heart space.
CLIENT: MERTHYR TYDFIL CBC
COMPLETION: 2021
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: KIER
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: CB3 CONSULT
SERVICES: SABA CONSULT
Relocation of the School of Healthcare to a new site adjacent to the UHW hospital
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- SCHOOL OF HEALTHCARE SCIENCES RELOCATION, CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
School of Healthcare Sciences Relocation, Cardiff University
Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed by AECOM to undertake the project design as a key member of their multidisciplinary team through the SEWTAPS framework. The site, purchased by Cardiff University, is adjacent to the UHW hospital site so ideally placed for the new school as staff and students frequently attend both. The three main blocks were originally built during the post war period as a military hospital, but the site was more recently used by the Department Of Work and Pensions for office accommodation, with Block 4 added by them in the 1990s.
The project is being undertaken in four phases. The initial phase was to refurbish teaching space at East Gate House in the city centre used by the school. The second and largest phase has been the refurbishment of Blocks 2 & 4 at the DWP site, creating the new main hub for the university’s School Of Healthcare. Block 2 comprises of clinical training spaces, mock hospital facilities, classroom and tutorial spaces as well as office and breakout spaces for staff and students. Block 4 contains post graduate study space and staff offices The third phase is the re-purposing of the decanted mock wards at Ty Dewi Sant on the hospital site. The remaining future phase will be the refurbishment of blocks 1 & 3 and the old refectory block on the DWP Site.
A-S:L worked collaboratively with University stakeholders, design team members and the contractor to steer the project through significant challenges to a successful design conclusion within the parameters set for the project.
Paul Yeoman, Assistant Director Capital Projects, Cardiff University
CLIENT: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
COMPLETION: 2023
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: ISG
STRUCTURES: CURTINS
SERVICES: AECOM
COST CONSULTANT: AECOM
AWARDS:
EDUCATION BUILDINGS WALES AWARD, INSPIRING LEARNING SPACES
EDUCATION BUILDINGS WALES AWARD, REFURBISHMENT OF THE YEAR
A landmark sports and teaching development at the entrance to the Parc Nantgarw estate
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- COLEG Y CYMOEDD SPORTS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
Coleg y Cymoedd Sports Centre of Excellence
The new Sports Centre of Excellence will bring high-quality sports and teaching accommodation to Coleg y Cymoedd’s Nantgarw campus, and create a striking entrance to the Parc Nantgarw estate. The facility is split into two distinct forms, which reflect the internal functions – the sporting side, which accommodates a sports hall, gym, and associated changing spaces, and the teaching side, which houses 8 classrooms, and an IT Study space.
Given the prominent site location, there was a desire to make this a landmark development, and was seen as an opportunity to express the function in its character. This was manifested into the semi-transparent polycarbonate cladding strip, which creates a visually arresting feature at night, and is enhanced by the sporting silhouettes applied externally.
A-S:L were involved in this project from its inception. The design of the Sports Centre was developed into a number of initial options, of which one was chosen to take forward. This design was further developed to meet the needs of the College, with further requirements communicated to A-S:L due to changes within the College funding. This allowed for the design to be further refined by A-S:L to produce a building that meets the needs of the College for many years to come. The building has a look that encompasses the College’s vision for Sport, with a design that meets the “Safe Space” vision for learner safety.
Glenn Black, Director of Infrastructure, Coleg y Cymoedd
COMPLETION: 2023
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: KIER
STRUCTURES: HYDROCK
SERVICES: HYDROCK
COST CONSULTANT: MOTT MACDONALD
AWARDS:
EDUCATION BUILDINGS WALES AWARD, PROJECT OF THE YEAR – COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
A key brief objective was that the design of the new school should provide flexible and adaptable spaces to teach and learn the New Progressive Curriculum
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- FITZALAN HIGH SCHOOL, CARDIFF
Fitzalan High School, Cardiff
Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed as part of Kier’s winning team to lead the design for the new Fitzalan High School after a mini competition based on a detailed brief, which called for the provision of a replacement new 11-18 high school at 10FE including 350 post 16 places. The Design Team worked closely with Cardiff Council and their advisors, as well as the School, to realise the vision for a sustainable learning community aligned to the new flexible curriculum.
Located on a site close to the existing school, and sharing facilities with the adjacent Cardiff International Sports Campus, the completed project represents a significant new facility for the pupils, staff and local community.
We feel that A-S:L totally understood our vision and passion for our school and what we wanted the new school to enable us to be. They have captured our demands for an inspirational environment that also allows us to deliver the curriculum in the bespoke responsive way that ensures our pupils will be successful. We cannot be constrained by typical classrooms and traditional methods and the A-S:L team have grasped that as a concept and designed an amazing facility that will allow for the flexibility and innovation that we are so keen to continue.
Jo Kemp, Assistant Headteacher, Fitzalan School
CLIENT: CARDIFF CITY COUNCIL
COMPLETION: 2023
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: KIER
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: AECOM
COST CONSULTANT: MACE
AWARDS:
CONSTRUCTING EXCELLENCE WALES AWARD, DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY
EDUCATION BUILDINGS WALES AWARD, PROJECT OF THE YEAR – SCHOOLS
RICS WALES AWARD, PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING OF THE YEAR
PDR is a world leading design consultancy and applied research facility owned by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
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- ALEXANDER HOUSE OFFICE REFURBISHMENT, CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Alexander House Office Refurbishment, Cardiff Metropolitan University
PDR is a world leading design consultancy and applied research facility owned by Cardiff Metropolitan University. The business operates independently from the University, operating internationally with world renowned industries including healthcare equipment developers, banks and retailers.
The project facilitated PDR’s move off the university campus to a separate facility bought by the University. Austin-Smith:Lord’s interior designers carried out full design services for the disused and dated 1980s three storey building, converting it into contemporary offices representative of the design quality PDR strive for. Key to the success of the project was the consultation process with end users to understand the vision of the organisation, workflows and practical requirements.
CLIENT: PDR / CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
COMPLETION: 2019
SERVICE: INTERIOR DESIGN
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: BECT LTD
STRUCTURES: ARUP
SERVICES: ARUP
COST CONSULTANT: AECOM
A flexible, long-term vision for the school
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- WELLINGTON SCHOOL CAMPUS MASTERPLAN
Wellington School Campus Masterplan
Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed to assist Wellington School in developing a masterplan that would seek to establish an immediate and long term vision for the school with respect to its current and future property needs. The masterplan has been developed to provide a flexible, long-term vision that can be adapted to deal with changes in priorities and circumstance; it is not intended to be a finite solution that needs to be rigorously implemented without deviation.
The main purpose of the masterplan is to provide a framework and create a vision for Wellington School that allows informed decisions to be taken with respect to the school’s future developments.
We have been delighted to work with architectural specialists Austin-Smith:Lord. Experts in campus development and masterplan creation, our partners from A-S:L quickly established an impressive understanding of our requirements and they have brought innovation, creativity and a wealth of experience to the task.
Mr S P Johnson, Headmaster, Welllington School
CLIENT: WELLINGTON SCHOOL
COMPLETION: 2018
SERVICE: MASTERPLANNING, ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: EDUCATION
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
TRANSPORT ENGINEER: TRANSPORT PLANNING LTD
COST CONSULTANT: NEILSON PARTNERSHIP
