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
Design of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness
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- SUNNYSIDE HOUSE, BRIDGEND
Sunnyside House, Bridgend
The Sunnyside House project seeks to address an urgent need for affordable housing in Bridgend by providing 65 high-quality, sustainable homes for social rent in close proximity to the town centre. The Site provides an opportunity for a landmark building to accentuate the corner of Sunnyside Road and Angel Street; providing a key wayfinding marker for the adjacent Sunnyside Health Centre and the Sunnyside Wellness Village and continue the ongoing regeneration of the local area.
All homes are to be designed to the latest Welsh Government Development Quality Requirements (WGDQR 2021). In doing so, the homes will target RNIB Visibly Better and Secure by Design Gold standards. The buildings will target an EPC A rating and will be designed to Lifetime Homes Standards.
COMPLETION: ONGOING
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: RESIDENTIAL
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
STRUCTURES: JUBB
SERVICES: DRAC CONSULTING
COST CONSULTANT: EXPEDITE
Design of a supportive palliative care environment for those in Ayrshire with life-limiting illness
Having been involved in early feasibility work to ascertain whether The Ayrshire Hospice could be redeveloped at its existing site close to Ayr Town Centre, Austin-Smith:Lord subsequently won a competitive tender and interview procurement process with Turner & Townsend as Lead Advisor under the Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) Framework to develop the new facility at 35-37 Racecourse Rd and the Hospices’ adjacent site at 15 Ronaldshaw Park.
The existing 20 bedded Inpatient Unit to the rear of the existing listed property at No.35 Racecourse Road will be replaced with a modern compliant inpatient unit comprising 12 single en-suite patient rooms and family areas.
COMPLETION: SCHEDULED 2024
SERVICE: CONSERVATION, ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: HEALTHCARE
CONTRACTOR: MCLAUGHLIN + HARVEY
STRUCTURES: STRUER
SERVICES: ATELIER TEN
COST CONSULTANT: TURNER & TOWNSEND
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 design the School to RIBA Stage 4 after a mini competition based on Stage 1 information issued by Cardiff Council. The Design Team have worked closely with Cardiff City Council and their advisors, as well as the School, throughout the project.
The brief called for the provision of a replacement new 11-18 high school at 10FE including 350 post 16 places to address “D” condition categorisation and “D” categorised sufficiency issues in the local area. This project represents a significant new facility for the pupils, staff and local community.
The new Fitzalan High School is built in the same area facing the catchment area that it serves. The site selected is close to the existing Fitzalan High School site, located on the other side of Lawrenny Avenue, Cardiff.
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. Our designs are supportive in delivering these principles and supporting the changing role of the teacher as a facilitator of learning.
We feel that ASL 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
RICS NW Building of the Year: Restoration and extension of the near derelict Grade II* Listed Church and Friary
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- MONASTERY OF ST FRANCIS & GORTON (INTERIORS)
Monastery of St Francis & Gorton (Interiors)
The Grade II* Listed Church and Friary of St Francis, designed by the acclaimed Victorian architect, Edward Pugin, for the Franciscan Order, was listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the ‘Hundred Most Endangered Monuments’ in the world. Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed as architects, conservation architects and landscape designers for the project which restored and extended the near derelict building.
The restored Monastery building now houses a commercially run visitor, conference and events centre incorporating an education and training suite. It was completed in 2007 and has been the recipient of many awards including a Civic Trust Commendation.
The dedication of Austin-Smith:Lord has been one of the main factors that has enabled our project to survive.
Elaine Griffiths – Project Director, Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust
CLIENT: THE MONASTERY OF ST FRANCIS & GORTON TRUST
COMPLETION: 2007
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: WILLIAM ANELAY LTD
LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: ATKINS
SERVICES: RW GREGORY & PARTNERS
COST CONSULTANT: DAVIS LANGDON
AWARDS:
2009 RICS NW BUILDING OF THE YEAR
2009 RICS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AWARD COMMENDATION
2008 CIVIC TRUST COMMENDATION
RIBA Award winning G-Live Concert Hall and entertainment venue
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- G-LIVE CONCERT HALL, GUILDFORD (INTERIORS)
G-Live Concert Hall, Guildford (Interiors)
Austin-Smith:Lord’s masterplan for a new Cultural Quarter in Guildford town centre includes the design of the RIBA Award winning G-Live Concert Hall and entertainment venue. In addition, part of the development is a new 4*, 185-bedroom Guildford Radisson Edwardian Hotel for which Austin-Smith:Lord was the concept design architect.
The G-Live venue opened to the public in 2012. It comprises a flexible multi-purpose auditorium, flexible studio rehearsal space, conference and seminar rooms, a café, bars and foyer space. The venue provides a focus for cultural events in the evening and is an important social hub and meeting place during the day.
We’ve had lots of compliments about the building and how well people think it will work operationally, so many thanks for your achievement! Everyone who has had any dealings with the venue thus far has commented how attractive and user friendly the design is.
Jim Miles, Director, Guildford Borough Council
CLIENT: GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
COMPLETION: 2012
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE, INTERIORS
SECTOR: ARTS & CULTURE
CONTRACTOR: WILLMOTT DIXON
STRUCTURES: URS/SCOTT WILSON
SERVICES: ROGER PRESTON & PARTNERS
COST CONSULTANT: MDA CONSULTING
AWARDS:
RIBA AWARD
