The new £10 million bus station forms an important visual element to the historic City Gateway site
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- CHESTER BUS INTERCHANGE
Chester Bus Interchange is an exciting and inspiring project, an integral part of Chester’s One City Plan. Planning permission was approved in December 2014 enabling further design and construction development to commence for the new bus interchange at Gorse Stacks in Chester City Centre. The bus interchange is described as a ‘key enabling’ project because it has replaced the current Princess Street exchange.
The new £10 million bus station forms an important visual element to the historic City Gateway site. Creating and delivering a high quality Public Realm forecourt area and concourse to a new Bus Interchange, it presents a strong civic face to the roundabout and approach, whilst complementing the composition.
We are delighted to have worked with Chester West and Chester Council on the new Chester Bus Interchange which bring a number of excellent transport related benefits to the city. These include better integration between bus services and the rail station and, it is hoped, less congestion as more people use bus services instead of private cars within the city centre and surrounds.
Richard Cronin – Partner, Austin-Smith: Lord
CLIENT: CHESTER WEST + CHESTER COUNCIL
COMPLETION: 2016
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: TRANSPORT
CONTRACTOR: MOTT MACDONALD
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: MOTT MACDONALD
SERVICES: MOTT MACDONALD
COST CONSULTANT: MOTT MACDONALD
Worked with Arup and Welsh Assembly Government to design this AMR facility, now occupied by AMRC and Airbus
Austin-Smith:Lord worked with Arup and Welsh Assembly Government to design the AMR facility for Broughton which will be occupied in the first instance by AMRC and Airbus to design machines and technologies to support the manufacture of composite wings.
As part of the scheme ARMC reach out to local engineering SMEs to see how robotics and advanced manufacturing can be utilised to streamline their existing processes and to open them up to new markets utilising their skill base.
This outreach was piloted in Sheffield by AMRC who are working with Boeing, McLaren, Cateram and others in the development of composite injection techniques which have resulted in the new Monocoque McLaren chassis which weighs in at just 80Kg. The use of glass on the external envelope to showcase the technology and multifunctional canteen spaces that act as hosted meeting areas with viewing galleries allow the public and business to see first hand the scale of the opportunity with government catapult funding allowing access to machines and robots on a shared basis to lower the barriers to considering new technology.
CLIENT: WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
COMPLETION: 2019
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: INDUSTRY & INFRASTRUCTURE
CONTRACTOR: GALLIFORD TRY
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:lORD
STRUCTURES: ARUP
SERVICES: ARUP
COST CONSULTANT: WYG
Campus masterplan, and design/delivery of two new buildings
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- UWE BOWER ASHTON MASTERPLAN
University of the West of England, Ashton Bower Campus
Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed by the University of the West of England to deliver the Bower Ashton Masterplan and undertake the architectural design and delivery.
Home to the Faculty of Creative Arts, the masterplan significantly improves the outdated existing campus, adding two new buildings, demolition of existing poor quality accommodation, refurbishment of existing facilities, as well as comprehensive landscaping of the campus including a new central courtyard space and rationalisation of car parking and site access.
Building 1 – the new-build Digital Media building (completed in 2017) provides a modern, fit-for purpose, digitally-connected environment that will attract and retain students and retain the University’s reputation as a sector leader. It provides space for growth in high performing subject areas.
Building 2 – The Physical Making building, currently ongoing, comprises of the demolition of an existing building, construction of the new Physical Making building, and rationalisation of carparking and site access. A new central landscape courtyard is planned as part of future phases along with refurbishment of existing buildings and an extension to the Physical Making building.
We are delighted and proud of our new digital media building designed by Austin-Smith:Lord. The building provides a demanding technical function within a striking and elegant design.
A-S:L have been creative and supportive throughout the design and build and have set a benchmark for our campus redevelopment.
Roger Conlon – Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries & Education, University of the West of England
CLIENT: UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND
COMPLETION: BUILDING 1: 2017. BUILDING 2: ONGOING
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS
SECTOR: EDUCATION
CONTRACTOR: WILLMOTT DIXON
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: ARUP
SERVICES: ARUP
COST CONSULTANT: FAITHFUL & GOULD
AWARDS:
2018 LABC BRISTOL EXCELLENCE AWARDS: BEST PUBLIC SERVICE BUILDING & BEST EDUCATIONAL BUILDING (BOTH FOR DIGITAL MEDIA BUILDING)
LABC WEST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL AWARD: BEST EDUCATIONAL BUILDING (DIGITAL MEDIA BUILDING)
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
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
Transformation of two vacant department stores in the heart of Swansea.
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- COMMUNITY HUB, ARCHIVE + LIBRARY, SWANSEA
Community Hub, Archive + Library, Swansea
Austin-Smith:Lord has been appointed as Architect for the transformation of two vacant department stores in the heart of Swansea.
With the current decline of high streets across the country, the project will be an exemplar for the sustainable and creative re-use of large department stores, and will create a community hub that will be a destination, increasing footfall and activity throughout the city centre.
The project will involve the relocation of Swansea Central Library, West Glamorgan and Neath Port Talbot Archives, South Wales Miners Library, and other council and third party services to a central, easily accessible location. A hub will be created, greatly increasing inter-connectivity and collaboration between organisations, members of staff, and the Swansea public as a whole.
Extensive and detailed consultation with numerous stakeholders have taken place, entailing the careful coordination of often competing requirements in the development of the scheme.
Planning Approval was successfully granted early 2022. The project is set to complete in 2023.
CLIENT: CYNGOR ABERTAWE SWANSEA COUNCIL
COMPLETION: 2023
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS
SECTOR: CIVIC, ARTS + CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: KIER
STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: SDS
COST CONSULTANT: COREUS
Re-purposing of the redundant Debenhams department store building in the centre of Carmarthen into a new Hwb facility
Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed by Bouygues UK to develop design proposals for the adaptation and re-purposing of the redundant Debenhams department store building in the centre of Carmarthen into a new Hwb facility.
Containing facilities for Hywel Dda University Health Board, Carmarthenshire Museum Service, University of Wales Trinity St David and Carmarthenshire County Council Leisure and Advice Services, the new Hwb will be a significant destination within the town, providing essential community services.
The ground floor will be dedicated to health and well-being with a major clinic and healthcare centre working with a 24 hour Gym operated by the Council’s Leisure Services team and the Advice Hwb providing client facing Council services.
The first floor will feature a publicly accessible Carmarthenshire Museum collection store, workshops and group activity rooms for community engagement. In addition, it will offer spaces for training and conference that will be operated by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
The Hwb is an innovative and creative intervention by the Local Authority aimed at arresting the decline of retail activity in the town centre and generating new visitor numbers. It will be a catalyst for the regeneration and sustainable future of the retail heart of the town.
CLIENT: BOUYGUES / CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
COMPLETION: 2024
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS
SECTOR: CIVIC
CONTRACTOR: BOUYGUES
STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: HOARE LEE PARTNERSHIP
High specification villas on the last beach-fronted site in Ayia Napa
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- NISSI BEACH VILLAS, CYPRUS
Nissi Beach Villas Cyprus
Austin-Smith:Lord designed a number of high specification villas for Fastro Developments and SolTerra on the last beach-fronted site in Ayia Napa. Located to the East end of Nissi Beach the site has stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. As the brief called for exclusive properties, privacy was central to the development of the designs.
The decision was made at the start of the project to organise each plot around a pool and sheltered gardens, with an essentially L-shaped floor plan, the orientation of which was established through solar studies to achieve maximum daylight for the private external spaces as well as the main outlook from the principal reception and bedrooms. The villa forms a protective barrier for the private external space, with its external façade evolving into a thick curved concrete wall, reflecting traditional local structures and forming a distinctive street presence.
CLIENT: FASTRO DEVELOPMENTS
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
