We’re excited to be working on our first project in Wales. Together with our long time collaborators Urban Splash, alongside the City & County of Swansea we’re designing new offices as part of a major masterplan targeting urban renewal in the heart of Swansea.
The workspace will be home to the new public sector hub, which is being considered for a site in the area of the former St David’s Shopping Centre. Made up of four floors above ground level and one floor below, close to 1,000 workers could be based there. The proposed office has been designed to meet ambitious sustainability standards with a focus on occupier-operated natural ventilation and low carbon materials. The public sector hub would enable the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site on the seafront, while also supporting city centre traders because of the footfall it would create.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “Swansea city centre needs more people working and living there to support existing traders and employment, create new jobs and encourage more shops and other businesses to open in future.
“The proposed public sector hub will help meet that need because of the amount of extra workers who’ll be spending their money in the city centre’s restaurants, shops, cafes and other businesses.”
A public consultation will be taking place next month, allowing local residents and businesses to give their views on newly-released proposals. The events will show in-depth designs for the mixed-use public sector hub building which will include shops, restaurants and cafes at ground floor level, and commercial office spaces on the upper floors.
At this stage feedback will be sought on the design and look of the building, which would meet the highest standards of sustainability. The designs will be on display from 13 to 15 August, with a drop-in public consultation hosted at at the former Cranes Music Shop, 9-11 St David’s Place, Swansea, SA1 3LG, and local residents can also provide their feedback via an online portal during the consultation dates.