UWIC’s Llandaff campus may look more like a construction training ground than a university. But that’s beginning to change with the completion of the new Cardiff School of Management.
The four-story, 8,000-square-metre structure echos the architectural look of other Welsh contemporary buildings. With its angular metal exterior and glass atrium extending the length of the building, the Wales Millennium Centre comes to mind.
Form your own opinion of the new building. Take a sneak peek inside:
Here are some facts and figures about the building:
- Built at a cost of £20 million
- 200-seat traditional lecture theatre
- Three Harvard-styled semi-circular lecture theatres
- A ground-floor cafe with glass-covered garden terrace
- A new restaurant and bar for events and hospitality
- A professional-standard training kitchen for hospitality students
- Unique wall space designed to display art exhibitions from CSAD
Compare the finished building to the site under construction as Linda Spillane tells more about the school itself in this SU Tube video:
David Pritchard, Dean of the Cardiff School of Management, said:
“This spectacular new building has state of the art facilities, allowing UWIC’s Cardiff School of Management to build on its enviable reputation for attracting students from around the world. It will enable us to move on to the next stage of our mission to become a centre of excellence for professional development and a hub for joint learning with employers across South Wales.”
Read David Pritchard’s essay on how the building came to be on WalesOnline.
In the thick of August holidays, the building looks rather sparse without many students or staff. When mid September rolls around, the void will be filled.
The Llandaff campus is due to absorb nearly all of the students and staff from the Colchester Avenue site — roughly 160 staff and 2,000 students.
Whilst the Cardiff School of Management isn’t the only new structure on campus, it is the only one completed to date. When autumn term begins, UWIC officials say the other building results will be waiting for all the students and staff.
Llandaff Learning Centre
£1.6m has been invested in extending the current learning centre — more commonly known as the library. The refurbishment will add a three-story extension, new archive, social learning facilities, IT suites, training suites and study spaces. The extension makes room for the Colchester Avenue collections as the two campuses merge. Get your library cards at the ready for early October — even if you’re not a student.
The i-zone
The revamp to UWIC’s Llandaff campus main entry has been dubbed the “i-zone”, which officials say is a “one stop shop for all the student needs”.
This translates to a more spacious area with modern furniture where students can find information on anything to do with being a student.
The upstairs extension will cater to the thirst and hunger needs of students and staff. A glass-enclosed balcony will add more seating in the Dolce Vita cafe. Croeso y i-zone in September.
Student Union Campus Centre
UWIC’s facilities and catering department may get a run for its money when Starbucks moves into the new Student Union Campus Centre. What was the first-floor bar above the refectory will trade pints of lager for grande lattes. The redecorated area will have “a more relaxed social ambience”, according to a statement from SU president Clare Rafferty. Doors are set to open on 14 Sept.
What do you think of the new UWIC Llandaff campus? Tell us in the comments below.
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