As part of our continued work in the education and retail commercial sector we are proud to share final completion photographs of Gower College Swansea’s Coffee Hut at the Gorseinon Campus. The project was developed in partnership with Gower College Swansea, Encon Construction, Huw Griffiths Architects, CB3 Consult and McCann & Partners and Faithfull & Gould.

Encon were awarded the contract to construct the first-floor extension which incorporated a new Costa Coffee shop. The extension was constructed over the existing kitchen and refectory which remained in operation throughout the build, providing the logistical challenges that accompany a live College environment, together with the opening up of an existing roof structure during the winter months.

A new structural steel frame was fixed through the existing flat roof to the College structure and cladded with composite insulated panels. A mixture of new flat roof and vaulted pitched roofs were incorporated to maximise natural light and give a general feeling of open space within the café areas. Associated works included some ground floor demolition to construct a new under croft area with access to a new lift serving the 1st floor extension. As a result of this project the students are now benefitting from a light and airy space, with sufficient space and seating to enable students to study and relax together.

Principal Mark Jones said “We are delighted that our students can now enjoy this new, improved social space which we’ve created to make their time at the College as enjoyable and comfortable as possible, we believe our new facilities – not forgetting the £4m redevelopment of the Tycoch Campus – reflect the College’s goal to provide students with the very best overall experience during their time with us.”

Gower College Swansea’s Gorseinon Campus is home to students on a range of vocational and A Level courses – it has, in fact, the largest A Level cohort of any educational institution in Wales. It is also home to the College’s ever-growing International provision.