Construction Case Study: STEAM Academy, Bridgend College

Bridgend College's new state-of-the-art STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Academy is the latest addition to its Pencoed Campus, and will allow the college to streamline and enhance its educational provision in South Wales. Procured through the SEWSCAP framework, this project is also part of Wales' 21st Century Schools Programme.

Construction Case Study: Setting Up a Project Bank Account in Wales

This Guidebook has been prepared by members of the Welsh Construction Forum to support

the implementation of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) on all appropriate construction and

infrastructure projects in Wales.

The aim of the Guidebook is to provide construction clients and members of the supply

chain with 12 simple steps to ensure that PBAs can be established as quickly and as easily as

possible to safeguard payments during the course of a project.

Construction Case Study: Delivering Modern Methods of Construction

The latest addition to Ty Gwyn Special School may look like a normal school building, but it is packed with interesting features and was delivered using modern methods of construction.

The building was delivered by modular building specialist Wernick and was constructed using 18 individual modules which were manufactured in dedicated factory in Port Talbot, less than an hour away from the site. These were transported to site by lorry, then craned into position and bolted together to form the core of the building. The brick cladding and trussed roof were then added to the core to give a traditional construction appearance.

Manufacturing the building in a factory environment gave the project several advantages. Firstly, the building could be constructed at the same time as the foundations were being prepared, dramatically reducing programme length, particularly on site. Manufacture was also not affected by site conditions like the weather, making the programme even more reliable. This was vitally important for the school, who would need the building in time for the start of the new term.

Construction Case Study: Pantycelyn Halls - Aberystwyth University

Aberystwyth University's requirement was that the refurbishment of Pantycelyn provided “fit-for-the-future Welsh-medium accommodation and social spaces” which would be “good for 40 years”.

This ambitious project aims to bring this iconic Grade II listed building back into operation and reinstate it as focal point of Aberystwyth University’s Penglais Campus.

Pantycelyn Hall was one of the first buildings to be constructed on site, which Aberystwyth University acquired in 1929.

The design is by architect Sir Percy Thomas and named after the eighteenth-century Welsh poet, hymnist and revivalist, William Williams Pantycelyn.

Pantycelyn later served as the University’s Welsh-medium hall of residence from 1974, and hosted Prince Charles when he was a student in 1969.

The project provides modern, high quality en-suite lodging facilities for 19 students in a welsh-medium environment.

Construction Case Study: Design & Construction Y Pant Comprehensive School, Llantrisant, RCT

Delivered by Morgan Sindall during 2017, this £19m project involved the design and construction of a 1,400 capacity comprehensive school, including a 300 pupil sixth form. The state-of-the-art facility was to replace the previous outdated campus with a new two-storey teaching facility, a 3G sports pitch multi use games area and grass football pitch. Programmes were delivered around academic activity and student representatives wrote progress updates for the school blog.

Construction Case Study: Refurbishment & Remodelling of Pentrehafod Comprehensive School (Design Stage), Swansea

Delivered by Morgan Sindall in collaboration with the City and Council of Swansea, this £16m two-year programme (2016-2018) involved the refurbishment and remodelling of Pentrehafod Comprehensive School, including demolition, external works, new build and refurbishment. With a new reception and double height central social atrium, the project was to improve the performance of the building fabric and alter internal layouts to meet educational space standards.

Construction Case Study: Sports Park 2, University of South Wales, Treforest, RCT

Kier Construction undertook a one-year £10m two stage design and build project in 2017. Intended to improve the facilities at the Sports Park for existing use, and occupying 10,150m2, the project included: a teaching and spectator area and two-storey front of house structure accommodating: offices; treatment rooms; changing rooms; classrooms; a strength and conditioning room; and, a new state-of-the-art indoor synthetic 4G pitch.

Construction Case Study: Coleg y Cymoedd Aberdare College Campus (Design Stage), Aberdare, RCT

Forming part of the 21st Century Schools programme, a new £22m campus was constructed by Kier on the Coleg y Cymoedd site at Aberdare. The new 5,800m2 campus opened in 2017: replacing facilities on the existing campus and providing new; refurbishing a disused railway building; as well as providing car parking facilities and road upgrades. Challenges included the site occupying contaminated land which was also located on a flood plain.

Construction Case Study: Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen (Gateway to the Valleys School), Tondu, Bridgend

Delivered by JB Leadbitter this 13,933m2 community focused secondary school was intended to replace two existing secondary schools in Bridgend. The £39m project resolves existing energy inefficiencies, addresses surplus places, introduces operational efficiencies and enables greater flexibility for teaching. A community wing offers facilities to community groups and a combined heat and power system is shared with an adjacent Leisure Centre and a neigbouring home for the elderly.

Construction Case Study: UWTSD Swansea Waterfront (Design Stage), Swansea

From 2016-2018 Kier Construction undertook construction of a £30m waterfront academic building and library for the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea. Constructed on a previously disused site, the 10,109m2 academic building, 2,705m2 library and 2,443m2 access hall was to provide purpose-built facilities for learning, teaching and applied research; as well as social, leisure and recreation.

Construction Case Study: Penarth Learning Community, Penarth, Cardiff

JB Leadbitter was appointed to construct a new 11-18 mainstream school and a new 3-19 school to replace three existing special needs schools in Penarth. The £39.45m project demonstrates innovative thinking and provides modern education facilities for pupils and lifelong learning for communities. The facility will benefit from reduced energy consumption, a lower carbon footprint and lower whole life cost compared to previous school facilities.

Construction Case Study: Railway Training Centre of Excellence, Nantgarw, Cardiff

The new Training Centre of Excellence at Nantgarw forms part of a wider Estates Reconfiguration and Rationalisation strategy and will deliver a training centre for the railway industry to service the South East Wales region and the rail expansion and upgrading programme, which represents a potential investment of £10b over the next 10 years. The Project Manager was Mott MacDonald, the contractor was Interserve and has received Exemplar status from CEW.

Construction Case Study: Eastern High School

The new inspirational Eastern Community Campus was built to replace an existing school and also to innovatively include accommodation for Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) within the same building; creating an efficient delivery for education in the area. The project will create operational savings for the Council by sharing facilities between the school and college. Please see link for further information

Construction Case Study: Grove Building Refurbishment (Synthetic Chemistry), Swansea University, Swansea

Kier Construction was commissioned to deliver a £4.3m two stage design and build works contract to upgrade the three-storey 1960’s non-listed Grove Building. The 2016-17 project included refurbishment of 2,240m2 internal teaching laboratories, a computer suite for 80 students and ancillary spaces, window replacement and roof re-covering; as well as mechanical and electrical plant replacements and upgrades.

Construction Case Study: Raglan Church in Wales Primary School, Raglan, Monmouthshire

In 2015 Morgan Sindall carried out the £3.2m redevelopment of 210 pupil Raglan Church in Wales Primary School in Monmouthshire. The design and build contract involved the demolition of an old primary school and combined an existing primary school and a brownfield site. Photo voltaic cells, rainwater harvesting, biomass heating and high insulation resulted in an energy efficient building with an EPC rating of A+.

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Construction Case Study: St Teilo's Church in Wales High School, Llanedyrn, Cardiff

Willmott Dixon delivered a new £20m 1,440 pupil 11-18 years high school including sixth form in 2013, together with the necessary external works, playing fields, drainage, incoming service mains and the demolition of the existing adjacent Llanedyrn High School. The 12,660m2 new build was located on a sloping ambient site with acoustic challenges and high water table; the resulting ‘fit for purpose’ school was rated BREEAM Excellent and EPC A rated.

Construction Case Study: Aberdare Community School

The Aberdare Community School building at the Ynys site forms part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s £50m leisure and school complex which opened in 2015. The school formed as Aberdare High, Aberdare Girls and Blaengwawr secondary schools merged, with 1,400 pupils split between three old sites. The three-storey building, built by Lang O’ Rourke has a light and open double-atrium design, includes a gym and dance area and is designed with ‘break-out areas’ for learning, independent from the classrooms.

Construction Case Study: Railway Training Centre of Excellence, Nantgarw, Cardiff

The New Training Centre of Excellence at Nantgarw forms part of the wider rail expansion and upgrading programme to service the South East Wales region. The two stage £3.2m design and build project, delivered by Mott MacDonald in 2015, provides new 800m2 training facilities and increases take up of educational opportunities. It scores highly on industry benchmarks including air tightness, EPC rating and environmental accreditations.

Construction Case Study: Abercynon Community Primary School, Abercynon, RCT

Willmott Dixon delivered a new £7.1m 420 place plus SEN provision Community Primary School in 2013 - with access road, vehicle parking, play areas and landscaping; as well as new Public Library and Community Centre. Works included demolition and removal of existing facilities and encountered restrictions including low overhead cables, low bridge and the presence of bats. An innovative invasive plant species regime was adopted, 85% of sub contract orders were achieved locally and the project achieved BREEAM A and EPC A ratings.

Construction Case Study: Cwmbach Primary School, Aberdare, RCT

Willmott Dixon delivered a new £4.3m all-through Primary School in Cwmbach in 2013. The contract required the design and construction of a new five classroom infant block with nursery, hall and ancillary accommodation built on the site of the existing school. The scheme included 1666m2 new build and 278m2 refurbishment. Technical aspects were a sloping site, green roof, circular design, school fully operational throughout, with 99% of waste diverted from landfill.

Construction Case Study: New Vehicle Maintenance Depot, Cardiff

This £5.7m scheme delivered by Wilmott Dixon in 2012 was for a ‘state of the art’ new vehicle maintenance depot to house all fleet operations. The project included constructing workshops which met the strict VOSA/ATF workshop design requirements, parking for 250 fleet vehicles and vehicle wash. The site remained operational throughout the works and delivered 96% waste diverted from landfill, 88% local workers and 83% local supply chain spend.