Dulais Valley project helps us lift another award

02/16/2012

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership have scooped another prestigious award – this time for a project in Banwen.

The Dove Workshop plays a prominent role in supporting the community in the Dulais Valley.

Architects from the Lewis Partnership have been involved with a number of improvements to the workshops, including a new cafeteria area.

“Our role in developing the Dove Workshop has been hugely rewarding for the benefits the project brings to the local community,” said David Ward, associate director of the Lewis Partnership.

“Now, we have picked up a prestigious Neath Port Talbot Borough Council Building Control award for our work at Dove.

“The award is the icing on the cake for project which does a huge amount to develop community spirit in the Dulais Valley.”

The award was presented when the cream of the construction industry in Neath Port Talbot gathered at The Towers Hotel for a special ceremony.

This year was the ninth year for Neath Port Talbot to host the awards. The leader of the council, Councillor Ali Thomas was in attendance to present certificates and commemorative plaques to the successful builders and contractors.

The winners of each category will now represent Neath Port Talbot at the South Wales Regional Awards.

Councillor Thomas said: “It is a great achievement for everyone who attended to be nominated for these awards and it all goes to demonstrate their commitment to produce quality buildings for the citizens of Neath Port Talbot.”

Paul Davis, Building Control Manager for the council, said: “The awards serve to promote the Building Control service provided by the authority and encourage high standards of construction.”

Lewis Partnership associate director Mr Ward said: “It was a great honour to pick up the award for the Dove project and we were delighted to see the high standards of our work recognised.”

The Dove Workshop was first established during the Miners’ Strike of 1984 – 85 by a group of women from the Miners’ Support Group in the Dulais Valley.

The role of the Dove Workshop today is to identify and support adults in the community seeking education, training and advice on business start-up.

The Workshop established a Social Enterprise in 1989 to further develop child care provision, offer office services and more recently a community café and catering service.

The brief for the project was to provide a larger area of cafe accommodation and associated kitchen areas in response to the success of the old ‘Sarn Helen Café’ which had outgrown its part of the building.

The project is of great benefit to the community in providing an improved facility and further employment.

The community centre has gained contracts for hospitality with Land Rover and BMW in relation to the off-road centre, which is adjacent to the site, and also with the Ford World Rally Team during Rally GB.

The extension to the cafe area was crucial for the continued success and further growth and sustainability of the centre.

The accommodation provides for approximately 180sq.m. of cafe seating accommodation and 76sq.m. of kitchen preparation, storage and cooking areas with ancillary areas.

The project was completed in March 2011 and was subsequently nominated by the Building Control Team of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for their Built in Quality Awards.

Weblinks –

http://www.npt.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=2482&pr_id=4599

http://www.doveworkshopuk.org/

On Facebook, search ‘Lewis Partnership Ltd.’

On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect

David Ward, second left, picks up the award at the Neath Port Talbot Borough Council ceremony.

Presentation picture: David Ward, associate director, with the Lewis Partnership (second from left) accepts the award from representatives of Neath Port Talbot Borough Council.

The cafeteria area at Dove Workshops

Photos: The cafeteria area at Dove Workshops.

The cafeteria area at Dove Workshops

£4 million project will create a new school in Letterston

01/20/2012
An artistic impression of the planned reception area at Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston

An artistic impression of the planned reception area at Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are playing their part in the development of a new school at Letterston in Pembrokeshire.

The £4 million project is creating a new school for nearly 200 pupils, aged three to 11, on a site next to the existing Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston.

Haverfordwest-based builders W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd are in charge of construction and the new school is expected to be completed this summer.

The finished school will amalgamate two local schools, housing pupils from Ysgol Ger y Llan and Mathry School following an education reshuffle. The school will also provide community facilities.

“As the architects in charge of the design work, we are thrilled to be involved with the project,” said the managing director of the Lewis Partnership, Philip Lewis.

“We have been involved with other school projects for the local education authority, Pembrokeshire County Council, in the past and we were delighted to provide the winning design for the new Ysgol Ger y Llan.

“The building has been designed with a high emphasis on health and well being, something which strikes a chord with anyone interested in the welfare of children and education.

“The design of the building has been benchmarked for BREEAM, the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.

“BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design and the new Ysgol Ger y Llan has been given an ‘Excellent’ rating which means it is about as sustainable as you can get.”

An artistic impression of the new Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston

An artistic impression of the new Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston

Mr Lewis said that his team of architects had worked very hard on achieving a design which will contribute to the learning experience and not just be viewed as a traditional place of work or school

“At least 80% of the floor area in each occupied space will receive adequate day light and have an adequate view out.

“Fresh air will be delivered to the occupied spaces of the building via a natural ventilation strategy.

“In addition, we have taken care to ensure that the external features of the design contribute to the education experience.

“There will be a multi-use games area and a grass pitch, all within a secure perimeter.”

Other features will include dedicated areas with raised planters for pupils to create and manage organic planting.

There will also be natural habitat areas, including a wildflower meadow area, bird nesting boxes and feeder stations and bat roosting boxes around the site to improve biodiversity.

There will be a car park and a wildlife pond and a dedicated ‘African’ garden

The school building itself will include six classrooms a main hall and a kitchen.

Hot water needs will be provided by solar thermal collectors on the roof.

Mr Lewis added: “All in all, it’s a very innovative project and one which we hope will meet with the approval of the pupils and teachers who will use the school.”

Photos attached: An artist’s impression of the finished school at Ysgol Ger y Llan, showing the whole building and the view of the reception area.

Weblink –

www.wbgriffiths.co.uk

On Facebook, search ‘Lewis Partnership Ltd.’

On Twitter, look for @Lewis_Architect