Cardiff Student Union

I haven't posted on this site for ages (not since you had to sign up)..it's nice to be back.

Interesting below..I had not heard of this previously.

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news ... ferrer=RSS

Contest launched for Cardiff University student union

12 February, 2015 | By Merlin Fulcher


Cardiff University has launched a design competition for an ‘iconic’ addition to its student union

Contest launched for Cardiff University student union

Planned to complete by 2020, the ‘Centre for Student Life’ will be physically connected to the university’s existing student union on Park Place.

The new facility will provide a ‘one-stop shop for students’ where appointments with all university services can be arranged.

Informal social and learning spaces and a large events area for careers fairs and exhibitions will also be included.

Alongside designing the centre, the winning team will also work up plans to regenerate the existing student union and create a new pedestrian bridge to nearby Cathays Railway Station.

Plans to pedestrianize Park Place and ‘enclose’ the university’s Main Building courtyard will also be required.

The Centre for Student Life is the first phase of a £700 million campus redevelopment masterplanned by RMJM-offshoot mosescameronwilliams.

The Cambridge-based firm defeated Foster + Partners, HOK, Wilkinson Eyre, Allies and Morrison, Stride Treglown and Sheppard Robson to win the high-profile commission last year.

Five shortlisted teams will receive £5,000 each to participate in the latest competition’s second stage and the winner will receive the building commission.

The deadline for requests to participate is midday on 9 March.

Buried away in that is

Plans to pedestrianize Park Place and ‘enclose’ the university’s Main Building courtyard will also be required.

There's a lot of sense in that. Park Place has heavy pedestrian use - particularly in term time. I wonder what the alternative route for traffic would be though?

Directing traffic along either Museum Ave or King Edward VII Ave would have a terrible impact on the civic centre -one of Cardiff's crown jewels. On the other hand I'm not sure North Rd could cope with all the displaced vehicles.

Meanwhile any improvements to the hideous bunker that is CSU are to be welcomed!

I think pedestrianizing Park Place would be somewhat overkill - I'd instead put in additional wider crossings and traffic calming measures. Otherwise with pedestrianisation, as you say, additional traffic will be diverted down North Road and Boulevard de Nantes - which at peak time is already a nightmare.

I really hope they don't pedestrianize Park Place, would be a disaster for the additional traffic cutting through the civic centre and queuing on North Road - there really isn't anywhere else for it to go.

I must admit, it seems an odd one to me. I can't see that element progressing.

This is much needed. The SU obliterates the middle part of Park Place. It also oppressively dominates Senghenydd Road. I'd like to see the whole of that side of Senghenydd Rd regenerated - the maths building, the car park next to the station and the Enterprise centre all need an overhaul at least.

Pedestrianisation of Park Place is bonkers though. Lest we forget Cardiff is a working city that should be designed to work for its citizens and not simply 'prettified' for the benefit of visitors. There is no compelling reason to pedestrianise Park Place but many compelling reasons not to, most of which have been expressed already.