The Challenge:
Creating an iconic building that would be an entrepreneurial and creative hub for anchor tenant S4C , an incubator for new companies and a breeding ground for a new generation of creative and technical people.
While achieving an iconic design, there was also a requirement to find added value in the development of the design including rationalising the layout and façade arrangement to achieve an overall reduction in the building's footprint and gross internal floor area. This needed to be achieved while maintaining the net lettable area of the building. Further exercises that had the effect of lowering the ground floor height by up to half a metre was also achieved during pre construction.
The building also needed to be a fully integrated faculty within the University that connected well with the buildings immediately adjacent and offering easy access to the community via a café, performance spaces and auditorium.
The Solution:
The design philosophy is based on the close relationship between the University, prospective tenants of the Centre and the wider community. This is reflected in the design of the building: a simple triangular form that grows from Carmarthenshire’s soil. Inside its three storeys are focused around a public foyer and atrium. It is linked to the main campus by a large public square, for the staging of a variety of outdoor activities. Set in a beautiful rural location.
Yr Egin also provides the University with a multidisciplinary entrepreneurial and creative hub, where people can collaborate and spark ideas off each other. Co-locating with broadcaster S4C allows companies to establishing opportunities, exchange information innovate and create jobs. There are also a café, performance spaces and auditorium available to all.
The Impact:
The economic impact of Canolfan S4C Yr Egin will be significant, contributing more than £11m to the local economy each year. S4C YrEgin will attract a high value sector, with opportunities for specialist jobs and opportunities in the Swansea Bay City Region.
The architectural impact is strong, appropriate and works subtly on a number of different levels. Rather than imposing a geometric shape onto the site, the architects have used the idea to create a building that sits comfortably in the site, addressing the different surrounding conditions appropriately. The ambition to create an impressive but modest building responds well to S4C’s brief and philosophy. The ground floor will contain broadcasting and performance spaces, while a range of offices for S4C and other partners will be provided on the upper two floors.
" The centre will be the destination of choice with new enterprise hubs and high skill accelerator schemes to grow new businesses linked to the university’s portfolio. It will develop the skills of existing businesses and attract new investment into the region "Gwilym Dyfri Jones Associate Pro Vice Chancellor Trinity St David Carmarthen
View more projects
Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond.
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Project Maia - Infineum
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Construction of a secondary school to create much-needed school places in north east Sheffield
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The addition of high-class sport and leisure facilities for one of the UK’s most distinguished private schools has created flexible, multi-purpose spaces wrapped around the existing centre. Alongside a new sports hall, activity studios, squash courts and a gym, are additional changing rooms, a MUGA and new car park.
3 Sovereign Square
Developing a new, six-storey office building in central Leeds, ensuring the design blended in with the surrounding historic buildings, using lean planning to ensure the smooth running of the project, applying innovative thinking to the build, and achieving an Excellent BREEAM sustainability rating.
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The design and construction of a new teaching block and first-class sports facilities.
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One of the most sustainable mixed-use building in the country and winner of the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building award.
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Dixons Sixth Form
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The design and construction of a highly sustainable Passivhaus ‘Plus’ 1,400m2 office building. Laid out over three floors to accommodate up to 125 people, providing local office space for individuals and small businesses.
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Procured through the Scape National Minor Works Framework, this scheme involved the construction of a new primary school provision at the existing Stowlawn Primary School in Bilston, Wolverhampton. Unique to this project was the building’s existing Passivhaus principals and bespoke brickwork façade.
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The simultaneous extension and refurbishment of two neighbouring primary schools.
Yr Egin Media and Office Development
Bringing an iconic and sustainable development to the Carmarthen campus of the University of Wales, providing 40,000 sq. ft. of accommodation for for Welsh Media company S4C and the University's new media faculty and offices, and achieving a BREEAM Excellent certificate for sustainability.
Falmouth School Sports Pavilion
The design and construction of a sports pavilion, including FA compliant changing facilities, gym, office space and flexible recreation areas. In addition a first floor balcony was incorporated into the design which overlooks the sports pitches.
58 Victoria Embankment
Located on the River Thames Embankment, this project involved the demolition of the existing building behind a retained façade and the construction of a new steel framed Cat A office with a concrete basement. Inside the building, being the main feature is the central atrium and 3 scenic glass lifts.
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Materials Analysis Laboratory
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33 Foley Street
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Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls
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The Institute for Innovative Materials, Processing and Numerical Technologies (IMPACT)
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The re-emergence of Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC) Shire Hall after its retrofit and refurbishment reads like a fairy-tale. Over 165 weeks and 82 phases of collaborative, innovative team-working, the part-listed, part 1960’s building, an eyesore, tired and inefficient, was responsibly and dynamically transformed into an elegant and highly sustainable workplace.
Hawthorne Primary and Nursery School
A modern primary school in Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, for an expanding local community that involved pupils throughout the build delivered through the Scape Minor Works Framework by Kier and Arc Partnership
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Delivering £32m first phase of new Swansea Waterfront Innovation Quarter to provide a 21st-century state of the art education facility to attract students from all over the world to the University of Wales Trinity St David.
‘The Biosphere’ Helix Development
Design and construction of a new 7,200m2 laboratory facility. The building consists of a mixture of biology and chemistry spaces, office spaces, unfitted spaces and associated external infrastructure works. The facility has two floors of containment level 2 fitted labs and write-up areas, together with shared wash-up facilities.
Ericsson - Radio Access Network Framework
The RAN (Radio Access Network) is the technology used in the UK to allow mobile phones to transmit and receive data and voice services. Ericsson are a leading provider of RAN access to many of the UK’s mobile networks and in 2013, we were appointed by Ericsson to maintain its RAN assets to keep the UK’s 4G and 5G networks live and operational
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group Headquarters
Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, one of Gloucester’s biggest employers, had offices throughout the city which were not considered future proof. They decided to consolidate all Gloucester based staff into a new purpose-build headquarters on Gloucester Business Park. The building is leased from Arlington, owners of the business park, and long-term clients of Kier.
Springhead Park Primary School
Springhead Park Primary School is a brand new modular two-form of entry with additional 26 nursery spaces in Ebbsfleet, Kent. The new schools holds 420 pupils ages from 3 – 11. The building includes teaching space, food tech facilities, science laboratories, multi-use agency space and hard court play area.
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With Covid-19 restrictions preventing in person site visits, our virtual transition model supports pupils and teachers to familiarise themselves with their new building and access useful information to support their transition and adjustment to the new school environment.
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Construction of a new £30m building for Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School, providing 1,200 school places and ensuring social value was delivered throughout the project.
Iffley Academy
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Whitelands Academy, Kingsmere
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Clearwater Primary Academy
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Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
Design and construction of two replacement buildings as part of a 1,100 pupil school in Canterbury, Kent, providing 7,500m² of teaching space across a range of traditional classrooms and learning areas with specialist areas for art, science and technology. The second phase, currently underway, includes asbestos clearance, demolition of the existing school buildings, construction of a car park and MUGA area.
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