At a Glance
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£6.75M
Refurbishment
- Location
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Offices
-
-
Client
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Neath Talbot County Borough Council
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-
Architect
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GWP Architects
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Images Courtsey
-
GWP Architects
- Location
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Offices
- Client
-
- Neath Talbot County Borough Council
- Architect
- GWP Architects
- Images Courtsey
- GWP Architects
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Built in 1939, the Plaza Cinema was listed in 1999 for its striking art-deco façade design—although it also closed that same year. In 2009, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council acquired the building, and in 2018, they received an EU funding grant to develop the site behind the listed façade for community use. Our job? Integrated engineering services, investigations, assessments, and studies.
Our structural engineers went above and beyond to safely retain as much of the original building as possible and seamlessly connect heritage and contemporary needs. The rear of the building was demolished to make way for a modern YMCA community hub including business space, a hall, a fitness centre, a café, and shops. Designing within a tight town centre site was a challenge, as was managing limited outside space while implementing sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) requirements.
Building efficiency-wise, our team embraced a passive design that pushed the thermal and fabric performance of the extension beyond the notional target. We also introduced a dynamically-controlled smart air system to protect internal air quality against the town’s heavy industry. A VRF heat pump system and a large photovoltaic array on the roof were crucial to providing renewable energy and helping the building step away from the use of fossil fuels. Finally, we provided geo-environmental site investigations, transport assessments, and fire engineering and acoustics studies across RIBA stages 1-7.
Working collaboratively with BAM and GWP Architects, we helped Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council refurbish and regenerate this much-loved listed building, an iconic façade which helped inspire the careers of Sir Anthony Hopkins, Richard Burton, and Michael Sheen.
" }At a Glance
-
£6.75M
Refurbishment
- Location
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Offices
-
-
Client
-
-
Neath Talbot County Borough Council
-
-
Architect
-
GWP Architects
-
Images Courtsey
-
GWP Architects
- Location
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Offices
- Client
-
- Neath Talbot County Borough Council
- Architect
- GWP Architects
- Images Courtsey
- GWP Architects