Client
Freeschool Court Church
Architect
Lawry Architects
Photographer
Angela Gidden
Location
Bridgend, South Wales
Project Value
£900,000
Year
2021
Freeschool Court Church
As a growing church and thriving place of worship the Freeschool Court Church located in the centre of Bridgend, South Wales, required more space, a bigger place, and increased flexibility to accommodate its expanding congregation, activities, events and local community use. The design and build solutions were to essentially create a brand-new lecture hall and extension to the existing Freeschool Court Church Evangelical HQ. The clients required the new linked space to be multi-functional, modern and stylish with the existing exterior and new build to be harmonious by design – timelessly marrying the old and the new.
Clients bold vision, contractors safe hands
The Client had never taken on such a large-scale build project before so guiding the client and handholding them throughout the design and build process was a natural role for our team and Project Manager Fi, our safe pair of hands. Navigating the challenges faced during the pandemic on top of the everyday build challenges proved so much more difficult but we ensured we met every need the client had including managing the site and build to enable the Freeschool Church to remain open and functioning – Business as usual, every day. Working closely with the client ASR were able to turn our client’s vision into a reality regardless of the twists and turns, the demands and the challenges. The client was delighted – We delivered on time, we delivered on budget
Solutions, solutions, solutions
From the outset there was a blank canvas, an open plot of land – an adjacent site of a former retail unit which had already been demolished. The build, designed by Lawray Architects is a large steel portal frame with block and face brick façade, aluminium glazing topped with a striking steel standing seam roof – simple and smart. The project evolved during the build to also include some remedial works to the existing church, particularly to its exterior as the aesthetic blend was essential.
The notion that this was going to be a straightforward build was quickly dismissed when the more in-depth investigations and assessments began. Poor ground conditions required much deeper foundations. Careful excavations were required to house the required attenuation tanks, together with a block and beam slab and floor above. The site was tight, almost too tight for the large cranes. Being a city centre site and on a one-way narrow street challenged some of the larger scale works such as the construction of the steel frame, as well as some of the larger material deliveries – all obstacles, not problems
The detail - new spaces, seamless spaces
The clients desire for members and visitors to seamlessly transition and navigate between the old and new spaces to was high on the design wish list. Bright open spaces were created answering the need for a modern and sleek entrance area and modern external aesthetics, all of equal importance to the client. Design for adaptability within the key spaces from main lecture hall to the large well-equipped kitchen to open and welcoming entrance was factored into the design giving the client flexibility of use at all times. ASR Project Manager Fi, worked closely with the client proposing and selecting finishes, hardware and lighting which helped facilitate the client to realise their vision for this project – a perfect outcome and a delighted client.
