Cardiff School of Management – Austin Smith Lord Architects
Architects Austin Smith Lord were commissioned to create a new home for the Cardiff School of Management for the University of Wales Institute. The structure is boldly arranged, presented with a strong and iconic overhanging front facade.
The bold aesthetic statements continue internally with the main stairs traversing their way through the atrium style central area of the building. The atrium design brings a harmony to the building as a whole, engaging the open planned floor spaces and aiding in air circulation.
“The new £14 million Cardiff School of Management building is the first phase of a redevelopment masterplan for the University of Wales Institute, Llandaff Campus. It will provide purpose designed accommodation for a total of 160 staff and approximately 2000 students totalling approximately 7800 square metres of floor space.
The Client required a ‘signature’ building of high architectural quality and insisted that the design addressed Sustainability issues and achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
The design comprises accommodation set either side of an atrium space which runs the length of the building. A three storey wing houses the main entrance, administration area, the hospitality suite and has staff workspaces at upper floors. On the opposite side of the atrium, a four storey wing houses the majority of the teaching spaces. The atrium will provide the social heart of the building. A feature staircase rises in a continuous line from ground to third floor and bridges at each level connect the two sides of the building. A 200 seat lecture theatre cantilevers over the main entrance below, positioned on the main axis of approach through the campus and provides a dramatic visual stop-end to this key vista“, Austin Smith Lord
