SCALA Civic Building of the Year Competition, 2007

Highly Commended

Cheshire County Council
Conway Centre, New Bedroom Block

The Conway Centre provides a wide range of short-term residential courses for children and young adults. It is the largest of its kind in the UK and set in idyllic surroundings in the extensive grounds of Plas Newydd on Anglesey. The site is owned by the National Trust and leased to Cheshire County Council.

There are extensive external spaces including grass, woodland, quarry areas and a private dock and shoreline on the Menai Strait.

The new block is located on a sloping site in a woodland area and provides 32 bed spaces with en-suite bathroom accommodation, together with a social space/activity area on the ground floor.

Construction comprises a timber frame built of a reinforced concrete floor with external walls clad in untreated oak boarding. The windows are high performance double glazed softwood. The glazing to the ground floor social space and entrance lobby is aluminium curtain walling. The roof is standing seam copper.

The building is accessed via metal steps and ramp and there is a timber deck providing an outdoor seating/activity space adjacent to the ground floor social area.

Architect:

Brock Carmichael Architects

Quantity Surveyor:

BCA Project Services

Mechanical and Electrical Engineer:

HFM Consulting

Structural Engineer:

Bingham Davis

Main Contractor:

Anwyl Construction

Landscape Architect:

BCA Landscape