projects


Western off to a flying start in Wales


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PECIALIST construction company, Western Building Systems, has clinched its first contract award under


the Welsh Procurement Alliance’s (WPA) £1bn modular buildings framework. The procurement framework is available


to public sector organisations in Wales and forms one of the WPA Construction, Extension and Refurbishment portfolios. Western will be responsible for the off-


site manufacture and on-site construction of a brand, new, state-of-the-art modular building that will become the new hub for the “Flying Start” programme in Penyrheol, Caerphilly. The Flying Start programme forms part


of a wider Welsh Government-funded initiative available in targeted areas to provide support to families with a child under four years old. The programme promotes language, cognitive, social and emotional skills, physical development and early identification of high needs in families. The new purpose-built centre will


consist of large childcare space with plenty of room for the children to interact and play, hygiene facilities designed specifically for young children as well as regular bathrooms, storage, a kitchen, office and large meeting room. Neil Barker from WPA commented: “We are delighted to see the WPA


framework in action, helping to build relationships between quality modular suppliers and public sector bodies. Frameworks like this help make the procurement process much more streamlined, resulting in public sector bodies getting construction projects off to a start much quicker – a benefit for the supplier, client and the wider community making use of services once in place.” Commenting on the project, Rory


McGuigan, of Western said: “Our modular option is especially useful in projects such as this where there is an expectation that the site will remain operational for as long as possible – this particular site will remain open to visitors Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 right up until the new centre opens.”


www.westernbuild.com


Coventry building wins planning approval A


THIRD new building designed by Broadway Malyan for Coventry University has received


planning consent. Work is set to start later this year on ECB2,


a second building for the university’s Faculty of Engineering, Electronics and Computing. It will provide a focus for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach and enterprise activities and will complement the Arup-designed ECB1, the faculty’s existing teaching block which opened in 2012, which will be linked to the new building via a new covered bridge. The new four-storey building will


provide a range of learning spaces that will include a gaming and virtual reality studio, a specialist area for 3D printing and rapid prototyping, a laser facility and physics and electronics laboratories, all designed around a full height central atrium configured to promote student and staff collaboration. Andrew Goldthorpe, Associate at


Broadway Malyan, said the clean and understated design approach was a


12 highereducationestates


response to the myriad existing styles within the university campus. “ECB2 will offer a different aesthetic but with a complimentary palette that offers a calming urban influence on this prominent site with a stunning interior that will deliver another world-class learning environment for the University.” Ray Farmer, Academic Dean of the


Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing at the university, added: “This new building will allow us to expand our innovative and inspiring teaching and research spaces for students and staff in the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing.” Construction work is expected to


start this summer, and it is hoped the building will open its doors to students in autumn 2020.


www.broadwaymalyan.com


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