Gower College Swansea has celebrated a significant milestone with the sectional handover of the top floor and roof at the Tycoch Campus.
This is the latest stage of a project that has seen the removal of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) from the roof, followed by a series of coordinated work packages focused on safety, compliance and long-term sustainability.
These works will ensure that the College continues to address the fundamentals of building performance while creating the conditions needed to support future low‑carbon technologies.
“Working in partnership, we have successfully delivered our key project objectives at Tycoch. These include significant roof insulation improvements and associated upgrades, targeted window replacements, and critical refurbishment works that enhance comfort, efficiency, and overall wellbeing across our learning environments," states CEO, Kelly Fountain.
"Furthermore, we have invested in essential future-proofing works, including upgrades to the main incoming electrical supply, thereby enabling support for the next generation of low-carbon systems and technologies across the estate.
"Our sustainability ambitions continue to advance, with renewable energy now forming an integral part of our strategy through the installation of photovoltaic (PV) generation systems. These improvements not only reduce operational carbon emissions but also strengthen the resilience and long-term performance of our estate as we progress on our Net Zero Carbon (NZC) journey."
“This moment marks a major milestone in the progress of the College’s NZC journey and we are very proud to have played such a key role,” says Mike Baynham, Construction Director at Knox & Wells. “A huge thanks goes out to all involved parties for their efforts thus far, and for making this project such a great success. It’s taken a huge amount of collaboration, expertise and effort to successfully reach this point, especially on a live site with complex logistical challenges, but the results speak for themselves!”
The programme has required careful planning and strong collaboration across teams, consultants, and contractors. The College extends its thanks to our main contractor partners on this project: Knox & Wells; Cambria; AtkinsRéalis; Green Hat; and Blake Morgan.
We’re also grateful for the continued support and investment from Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, which has been instrumental in aligning our compliance-driven work packages with our wider sustainability and transformation goals.
“I’d also like to add a heartfelt thanks to our staff and students for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the duration of this project,” adds Principal, Paul Kift. “Their support has been essential in enabling us to deliver these improvements while maintaining a positive and stable environment for teaching and learning.
“As we move ahead, we remain committed to building on the success of this phase - continuing to create resilient, efficient and inspiring spaces that nurture sustainable communities of learning for years to come.”