RICS Awards 2019: Wales winners brochure

The Winners Wales

rics.org/walesawards

Contents

2

Introduction

4

Winners’ overview

5

Building Conservation

6–7

Commercial

8-9

Community Benefit

10-11

Design through Innovation

12–13

Infrastructure

14–15

Regeneration

16–17

Residential

20–21

Tourism & Leisure

22–23

Project of the Year

24–25

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RICS introduction The annual RICS Awards, Wales recognise exemplary built projects in the land, real estate, construction and infrastructure sectors that are positively contributing to their local communities. They also celebrate the talented RICS professionals and inspiring teams behind them.

A diverse range of innovative projects, of all sizes and budgets, made the shortlist this year and over the next few pages you will find out more about the category winners – and the esteemed ‘Project of the Year’ – not to mention the positive impact they are having on their local areas.

You’ll also discover the firms – and the varied range of disciplines – that collaborated to deliver each of these winning projects. It is the vision and talent of these admirable partnerships that have brought these exceptional projects to life, so the winning teams should be very proud of their achievements and contribution to the region.

I’d like to thank our panel of RICS Judges for their time and commitment. The judging process is tough and challenging, particularly for the overall Project of the Year title as this is awarded to the category winner that demonstrates overall outstanding best practice and the highest commitment to adding real value to its local area.

This year the prestigious title went to Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny.

Congratulations go to the team behind it for delivering such a remarkable, worldclass project that is having a resounding positive impact on its community.

All category winners – including the Project of the Year – will go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final in London, for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category and vie for the ‘UK Project of the Year’ accolade.

I wish them they very best of luck in representing Wales and showcasing just what RICS professionals, together with other built environment professionals, can achieve.

My sincere thank you to our sponsors for this year’s RICS Awards, Wales who helped make the awards ceremony such a fantastic celebratory occasion.

Winners’ overview Sponsor the RICS Awards 2020, Wales Sponsoring the RICS Awards provides firms with the ideal opportunity to raise the profile of their organisation amongst decision makers in the land, real estate, construction and infrastructure sectors.

Various sponsorship packages are available For further information please contact the Regional Account Manager – Richard Ackroyd t +44 7890 324459 or e rackroyd@rics.org

Once again, the RICS Awards 2019, Wales was an outstanding and inspiring evening. The awards continue to attract pioneering entries from all over the region and this year was no exception.

Sponsors and supporters of the RICS Awards 2019, Wales Headline sponsors

Across the following pages you will see many examples of the exceptional talent and vision which makes Wales a fantastic place to live, work and, of course, visit.

The eight category winners – Building Conservation, Commercial, Community Benefit, Design through Innovation, Infrastructure, Regeneration, Residential and Tourism & Leisure – will now progress to the RICS Awards 2019 Grand Final in October to be held at The Lancaster Hotel, London.

Category sponsors

The full list of winning projects is:

Building Conservation

Regeneration

Winner Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny

Winner Coed Pella – Conwy County Borough Council Offices, Conwy

Commercial Winner Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, Carmarthen

Highly Commended Loftus Garden Village, Newport

Community Benefit

Residential

Winner Eastern Community Campus, Cardiff

Winner Bridge Street Exchange, Cardiff

Design through Innovation

Tourism & Leisure

Winner BBC Cymru Wales Headquarters, Cardiff

Winner Coed y Bleiddiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Infrastructure Winner University of South Wales – Sport Park, Pontypridd

Matthew Howell RICS Managing Director, UK & Ireland

Inspiring winners The RICS Awards 2018 were full of spectacular projects – here are some Project of the Year winners: 4

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands

Get Busy Living Centre, Melton Mowbray, East Midlands

Aerospace Bristol, Bristol, South West

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Building Conservation This award honours excellent work in the conservation of a single building or structure or a group of buildings or structures and covers renovation or conversion to a new or original use.

The judges said The conservation of Llwyn Celyn, a medieval hall house recently described as “the most at-risk lived-in building in Wales”, has been led by a team that understands its history and heritage, and how to present it. Almost the complete story in the changes that have been made can be told through what you see today.

Based on well researched heritage values, this scheme provides a model for teaching excellent conservation principles. The outstanding quality of workmanship celebrates the right way of doing things – it sets the standard.

Shortlisted Coed y Bleiddiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog Nominated by Peter Napier and Co Ltd

Former Glyn Neath Gunpowder Works, Powys Nominated by Alastair Coey Architects

Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny Nominated by The Landmark Trust

Winner Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny Surveyor: Architect:

The Landmark Trust Donald Insall Associates Owner/Client: The Landmark Trust Developer/Contractor: I J Preece & Son Nominated by: The Landmark Trust The restoration of Llwyn Celyn sees the rescue of what CADW described as “the most at risk lived-in building in Wales”. The medieval hall-house has been restored as a ‘Landmark’ for up to 8 people. Its traditional outbuildings have also been restored and given new community uses including interpretation in the Beast House, an adaptable event space in the Threshing Barn, and a bunkhouse in the Granary. A wide programme of training and events were held during the restoration process.

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Commercial This award honours an outstanding commercial property development whether retail, office, leisure, industrial or mixed use.

Judges were looking for evidence of a commercially successful project.

The judges said Yr Egin is the 3,600m2 headquarters for broadcaster S4C located at the University of Wales Trinity St. David’s; providing flexible contemporary space for S4C, the wider creative industries and more conventional commercial occupiers. The project has created a new media and business hub in an area where there was nothing of this size or quality before. It promises to bring new business to the area and grow associations with the university, as such it is a very worthy winner of the commercial category.

Shortlisted AluK UK Headquarters, Chepstow Nominated by Rio Architects

Winner

Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, Carmarthen Nominated by BDP Architects

Menai Science Park, Anglesey Nominated by FaulknerBrowns Architects

BBC Cymru Wales Headquarters, Cardiff Nominated by Foster + Partners

Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, Carmarthen Surveyor: Architect:

Mott Macdonald BDP and Rural Office for Architecture Owner/Client: University of Wales Trinity St David Developer/Contractor: Kier Nominated by: BDP Architects Canolfan S4C Yr Egin is a new 3,600m2 HQ and media-hub on the Carmarthen campus of University of Wales Trinity St David. The building provides space for S4C television and other creative, digital and cultural practitioners who will exchange information, innovate, create jobs and promote the Welsh language.

BDP designed Yr Egin in collaboration with Rural Office for Architecture; together, we have created an exciting, elegant building which responds uniquely to the brief as well as the surrounding Welsh countryside.

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Community Benefit This award recognises honours excellent excellent work achievement in the conservation in providing of aasingle facilitybuilding which directly or structure benefits or athe group local ofcommunity buildings orand structures can illustrate and covers its renovation success through or conversion local community to a new or feedback. original Projects use. can be single or groups of buildings, new or improvements to existing facilities.

The judges said The new Eastern Community Campus in Cardiff is a 21st century secondary school incorporating Post 16 FE Training Accommodation into a single campus. The design creates a powerful statement of integration between school and FE and incorporating extensive community use of sporting facilities through the evenings and weekend. The project has raised community ambitions through education and sport providing an inspirational learning environment.

Shortlisted

Winner

Brecon Cultural Hub (Y Gaer), Brecon Nominated by Kier

St Fagans Redevelopment, Cardiff Nominated by Purcell

Eastern Community Campus, Cardiff Nominated by Powell Dobson Architects Ltd

University of South Wales – Sport Park, Pontypridd Nominated by Pick Everard

Ysgol Cwm Brombil, Port Talbot Nominated by Stride Treglown

Eastern Community Campus, Cardiff Surveyor: Architect:

Capita Powell Dobson Architects Ltd Owner/Client: Cardiff City Council Developer/Contractor: Willmott Dixon Nominated by: Powell Dobson Architects Ltd The new Eastern Community Campus encompasses a secondary school with Post 16 Accommodation. The campus includes the following facilities, • 1200 school pupils (8FE). • 320 post 16 students plus vocational workshop accommodation.

• External sports facilities including grass pitches and 3G/ 4G pitches. • Community access to Sports and internal facilities. • New highways work including proposed traffic calming and a new roundabout. • The new school is a joint facility between The City of Cardiff Council (CCC) and Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC).

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Design through Innovation This award honours the use of outstanding innovation in designing a successful project. The Judges will look for evidence that use of creativity and innovative design have enhanced a project across a wide range of criteria.

The judges said This spectacular commercial pre-let building is part of the transformation of the rundown Cardiff Central Square area. The internal space is flexible, practical and exciting, providing energy to the staff and visitors of the building and the general public who have access via the arcade running through the main atrium. The commercial pre-letting to the BBC has allowed the creation of an innovative building that will be a landmark for Cardiff, Wales and the broadcasting industry internationally.

Shortlisted BBC Cymru Wales Headquarters, Cardiff Nominated by Foster + Partners

Winner

Coed Pella – Conwy County Borough Council Civi Offices, Colwyn Bay Nominated by Muse Developments

Menai Science Park, Anglesey Nominated by FaulknerBrowns Architects

Canolfan S4C Yr Egin, Carmarthen Nominated by BDP Architects

BBC Cymru Wales Headquarters, Cardiff Surveyor:

Rightacres Property Ltd Architect: Foster + Partners Owner/Client: BBC Cymru Wales Developer/Contractor: Rightacres Property Ltd Nominated by: Foster + Partners The new BBC Cymru Wales Headquarters brings together a wide variety of studio, administration and support spaces in a single building, which is open to the city, highly flexible, energy efficient and provides a creative, collaborative and inspiring workplace for BBC staff. Located opposite Cardiff Central Station, the project is situated on the site of the former bus station to create a dynamic principal building for Central Square, which is planned as a major new public space for the city.

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Infrastructure This award recognises the excellent achievement by a project or programme of infrastructure works. Infrastructure works include any projects that deliver essential facilities, services or organisational structures.

The judges said The University of South Wales new sports park is an outstanding project that as well as providing excellent educational facilities for the university, it connects students to the local workplace, promotes health & wellbeing, and puts Wales on the map via impressive international links with Europe, The United States and Japan. Its facilities are world class, and a well-deserved winner in this category.

Shortlisted University Hospital Wales – Neonatal, Cardiff Nominated by Kier

University of South Wales – Sport Park, Pontypridd Nominated by Pick Everard

West End Medical Centre, Colwyn Bay Nominated by C2J Architects

Winner University of South Wales – Sport Park, Pontypridd Surveyor: Architect: Client:

Pick Everard Atkins University of South Wales Developer/Contractor: Kier Nominated by: Pick Everard The University of South Wales Sport Park has been a huge success since its opening – developed to support and maintain the university’s position as one of the largest providers of football coaching degrees in Europe. It provides world class facilities which are now enjoyed by both students and visitors alike.

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Regeneration

Sponsored by

This award honours exceptional improvements to urban, rural or coastal areas. Judges were looking for evidence to show that the scheme conserved or improved the built or natural environment in a way that contributed to the viability of the area.

The judges said A state-of-the-art civic complex in the centre of Colwyn Bay. This has relocated significant numbers of staff into the town centre as part of Conwy County Borough Council’s overall regeneration strategy.

There has been an improvement in the number of businesses establishing in the town centre in anticipation of the new development and this has continued post opening. Vacancy rates declined from a previous 16% to 12% in 2018 and the August 2019 figures are confidently predicted to show a further fall.

Shortlisted

Winner Coed Pella – Conwy County Borough Council Offices, Conwy Surveyor: Architect: Owner/Client:

Capita AHR Conwy County Borough Council Developer/Contractor: Muse Developments Nominated by: Muse Developments Significant drivers for the project ranged from poor condition of a disparate stock, poor working environment for staff and accessibility for customers, lease expiry and significant backlog maintenance.

Vacancy rates and footfall in the seaside town of Colwyn Bay had been in decline for decades. Key to the regeneration of the town centre in the absence of significant private sector investment was to bring significant footfall of well paid jobs in the form of the new landmark Coed Pella offices.

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Brecon Cultural Hub (Y Gaer), Brecon Nominated by Kier

Loftus Garden Village, Newport Nominated by Lovell Partnerships Ltd

Ty’r Orsaf, Port Talbot Nominated by Morganstone Ltd

Coed Pella – Conwy County Borough Council Offices, Conwy Nominated by Muse Developments

Maes y Dderwen, Wrexham Nominated by John McCall Architects

West End Medical Centre, Colwyn Bay Nominated by C2J Architects

Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Nominated by Powell Dobson Architects Ltd

Neath Port Talbot College Group 6th Form Academy Hub, Neath Nominated by Rio Architects

Ysgol Cwm Brombil, Port Talbot Nominated by Stride Treglown

Highly Commended Loftus Garden Village, Newport Surveyor: Strongs Partnership Ltd Architect: Hammond Architectural Ltd Owner/Client: Pobl Group Developer/Contractor: Lovell Partnerships Ltd Nominated by: Lovell Partnerships Ltd

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Residential This award honours an outstanding residential development of either a single building or overall scheme, either new build or conversion.

Judges were looking for evidence of a successful project across a wide range of criteria.

The judges said Bridge Street Exchange is an eye-catching 26-storey tower development comprising of 477 Student hubs, enjoying panoramic views of the city, with ground floor retail units, positioned in the heart of the city.

Thoughtfully designed providing comfortable living environment with common room, study space, a gym, cycle storage, management facilities and roof terrace gardens. The ground floor is partly occupied by an Alcohol Treatment Centre, an NHS facility. The cladding design for the landmark building is an innovative bespoke unitised system, which not only enhanced time efficiency for construction, but also improved health and safety implications of working at height (83 metres).

Shortlisted Winner Bridge Street Exchange, Cardiff Surveyor:

Watkin Jones and Son Ltd Architect: Rio Architects Developer/Contractor: Watkin Jones Group Nominated by: Rio Architects

Augusta Bay, Llanelli Nominated by Powell Dobson Architects Ltd

Loftus Garden Village, Newport Nominated by Lovell Partnerships Ltd

Bridge Street Exchange, Cardiff Nominated by Rio Architects

Maes y Dderwen, Wrexham Nominated by John McCall Architects

Priory Gardens, Ewenny Nominated by Morganstone Ltd

Bridge Street Exchange is an striking tower development in Cardiff. Designed by Rio Architects for Watkin Jones Group, the development consist of retail / commercial premises at ground floor level and 26 storeys of student accommodation. The building comprises 477 bed spaces as well as common rooms, study spaces, a gym, karaoke room, cycle storage and management facilities. The building provides a beautiful and comfortable living environment with large windows within bedrooms presenting panoramic views across the city of Cardiff.

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Tourism & Leisure This award honours projects that make an outstanding contribution to tourism and leisure facilities in the region or their locality.

The judges said Coed y Bleiddiau is a Grade II listed cottage situated in Snowdonia National Park in an isolated location by the side of the Ffestiniog railway. The cottage was built in 1863 for the superintendent of the line. The Landmark Trust have carefully restored the cottage to allow it to be used by visitors to Snowdonia National Park. It is a high-quality restoration that was completed with constricted access requiring the majority of materials brought to the site via the train line. It has benefited the Ffestiniog line, bringing back a building on the train route that was at risk of falling into further disrepair and becoming an unsightly feature. Its restoration allows the Landmark Trust, Ffestiniog railway and the wider tourism industry in Snowdonia to celebrate the interesting industrial heritage of the area.

Winner Coed y Bleiddiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog Surveyor:

Peter Napier and Company Ltd Owner/Client: The Landmark Trust Developer/Contractor: Mark Roberts Building & Conservation Nominated by: Peter Napier and Company Ltd

Shortlisted Coed y Bleiddiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog Nominated by Peter Napier and Company Ltd

Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Nominated by Powell Dobson Architects Ltd

Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny Nominated by The Landmark Trust

Former Glyn Neath Gunpowder Works, Powys Nominated by Alastair Coey Architects

The repair, reinstatement and reuse of an existing railway building as a holiday let for The Landmark Trust. Coed-y-Bleiddiau is a small unassuming Grade II listed cottage situated in a beautiful, isolated and interesting location by the side of the Ffestiniog Railway. The building is a humble cottage with no fine architectural features but is located adjacent to one of the UK’s principle heritage steam railways, thought to be an ideal holiday location for walking, visiting the railway and in a quiet ‘off road’ location.

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Project of the Year

Sponsored by

This award is honours presented excellent to thework project in the which conservation has been judged of a single overall building as anor excellent structure example or a group of best of buildings practice or bystructures professionals andworking covers in renovation both the built or conversion and naturalto environments. a new or original use.

Winner Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny Surveyor: Architect:

The Landmark Trust Donald Insall Associates Owner/Client: The Landmark Trust Developer/Contractor: I J Preece & Son Nominated by: The Landmark Trust Llwyn Celyn is a remarkably little-altered medieval hall house built in 1421, making it one of the earliest surviving domestic buildings in Wales. It sits at the entrance to the Llanthony Valley whose Priory is further up the valley. Apart from the flooring of the open hall in the 17th century, the house has hardly seen any change since.

Latterly owned by two sheep-farming brothers, the house deteriorated around them, until CADW covered it with a ‘temporary’ scaffold and roof. CADW brought it to Landmark’s attention, describing it as “the most at risk lived-in building in Wales”. As part of the generous

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HLF grant, a comprehensive package of community benefits took place both on and off site. The farm buildings have been carefully repaired and restored to provide a range of community uses, including a museum/interpretation room; indoor and outdoor venues; and a bunkhouse for use by groups. The Farm Outbuildings, The Threshing Barn is an airy space, perfect for small gatherings, creative workshops, exhibitions and educational sessions. The Sheep Pen outside is ideal for practical sessions of craft tuition. The Granary Bunkhouse provides attractive bunkhouse-style accommodation for groups such as Duke of Edinburgh students. Both the Threshing Barn and the Bunkhouse can be booked for community use, ideal for those planning a residential retreat or a weekend creative workshop. A simple kitchen and washing facilities, including for disabled use, are included. An interpretation space has been created within the Beast House. This is open every day to anyone visiting the site, and it tells visitors about the history of the site and its restoration. The detailed History Album, provided for guests staying in the house, is available to everyone free of charge on the Landmark Trust website. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the restoration of Llwyn Celyn has been a catalyst for wider inspiration – principally by volunteering; craft training ‘Heritage at

Work’ weeks; and five artists-in-residence, who developed creative responses to the project.

Volunteers from as far north as Scotland made the trek down to Llwyn Celyn to work in and around this amazing historic site. They received expert tuition from Ty Mawr Lime in pointing and plastering using traditional lime mortars. They then worked in the Drying Shed, Beast House and Stable to consolidate the rubble stone walls. Native hedging was planted along with many rare Welsh fruit trees. The new hedgerow will play an important role in attracting and helping our bats to navigate in and out of the new bat roosts in the building lofts. NVQ students from Bridgwater and Taunton College worked with Welsh furniture expert Gareth Irwin to make traditional furniture from locally sourced green wood. The drystone wall which runs along the boundary of the site was in a very poor repair and required complete rebuilding. This heroic task was led by local expert, John Barber, aided by determined and hardworking volunteers.

Heritage at Work weeks were a new initiative for Landmark, conceived as part of our Heritage Lottery-funded outreach programme. There were four Heritage at Work weeks during the project when space was made in the works schedule for volunteers to come to site and learn about traditional materials and building techniques; have a go at some of them themselves, and generally help with tasks on the wider site.

Four artists and one writer have been commissioned to create new work in response to the restoration and conservation work at Llwyn Celyn. Each have interpreted the site in their own way, capturing the activity, history, processes and materials. The artists’ residencies are part of PEAK, an ongoing programme of Contemporary Art in the Black Mountains, organised by Arts Alive Wales in Crickhowell.

Llwyn Celyn has been restored with great skill and craftsmanship and to the highest conservation standards.

The Llanthony Valley and District History Group have researched most aspects of the valley’s ancient, modern and recent history, culminating in a huge digital archive, and a new bilingual guide book, published in 2018 as part of a project called ‘Llanthony Valley: A Borderland’.

The judges said Constantly occupied since 1421, Llwyn Celyn was transformed from the ‘most at risk lived-in building in Wales’ to a standard setting exemplar of good conservation practice. With minimum intervention and honest repair set against a background of a building helping to financially support itself as a modern and sought after holiday letting. Its status as Project of the Year for Wales is particularly significant in a year that provided a truly diverse range of excellent projects across all categories.

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Young Surveyor of the Year 2019 Celebrating inspirational surveying professionals Award categories are: • • • • • • • • •

Apprentice of the Year Asset and Facilities Management Building Surveying Commercial Property Land (Rural and Urban) Mentor of the Year Project Management Residential Property Quantity Surveying

• Valuation

Closing date for entries – 12 July 2019 *Open to all young surveyors, trainees and apprentices aged under 35.

Want to be Young Surveyor of the Year 2019? Nominate or enter now – rics.org/ysoya

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