| Project Name | Llys Cadwyn |
| Project Location | Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Project Start Date | March 2018 |
| Practical Completion | 16 October 2020 |
| Contract Value | £38,373,496.52 |
| QS/Cost Consultant | Rhomco Consultants Ltd |
| Structural Engineer | Hydrock Consultants |
| Electrical/Mechanical Engineer | Hydrock Consultants |
| Principal Designer | Darnton B3 |
| Contractor | Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd |
| Building Control | Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council |
| Architect | Darnton B3 |
| Project Manager | Rhomco Consultants Ltd |
| Engineers | Hydrock Consultants |
| Clerk of Works/Supervisor | Rhomco Consultants Ltd |
Project Overview
Project of the Year 2021 Highly Commended
Once home to the former Taff Vale Shopping Centre precinct, Llys Cadwyn has already transformed Pontypridd, providing a new focal point at the gateway of the town.
The redevelopment includes three parallel buildings ranging from two to five storeys, with new public spaces between each, and a basement containing parking, servicing and storage linking all buildings together. As well as providing office space for over 1,000 people, the development features a striking iconic landmark building that acts as a community ‘hub’, including a 21st Century library, a state of the art gym, activity studio, café and customer contact point.
Llys Cadwyn has transformed the centre of Pontypridd, providing a new focal point for the town. With Transport for Wales moving their headquarters into one of the buildings, it has already brought jobs and economic growth.
The project was delivered on time and on budget with high level of quality throughout the building. The choice of materials was key to create a quality end product without overspecification but with close attention to detail of the design was essential.
Designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent the project includes PV’s on the roofs of building A and B, the use of variable refrigerant flow air source heat pumps, and one of the first hydrogen fuel cell CHP systems in Wales, to generate heat and electricity for Building C. The buildings also benefit from other measures such as rain water harvesting.
The project overcame a number of technical challenges that required a truly collaborative multi-disciplinary approach. This included managing ageing flood defences, retaining existing walls, and the construction of the curved walls of Building C which needed to be carefully engineered, utilizing a steel skeletal frame, over-clad with precision engineered timber panels utilizing laminated veneer lumber.
Outcomes: 3,987 weeks of training opportunities of which; 834 weeks of training for longterm unemployed, 957 apprentice weeks and 201 weeks of work experience. 67% of the workforce were from within a 40-mile radius of the project and over 60% of our spend was within a 20-mile radius of the project. The project delivered £12.6m social return on investment.
