Southwater One - Associated Architects

Project Value:

£12m

Client:

Completion:

2014

Key Points

Three RIBA awards for the project (RIBA Award, Project Architect and Client of the Year winners)
Mixed use, library facilities
Benchmark for future Telford town centre developments
Solar powered fans EPC B, BREEAM Very Good

A Civic Heart

The curved, golden form of Southwater One is a striking contemporary design that sits at the centre of the Southwater masterplan. The building has become an iconic feature in the townscape landscape and a flagship community building for Telford and Wrekin Council. The primary aim of our design and the supporting masterplan, was to create a vibrant civic heart for the new town; one that fostered sense of identity and would inform future developments.

The Council’s ‘First Point’ services are located within Southwater One, as well as spaces for voluntary organisations, a new public library and hospitality offerings. The building sits beside a new landscaped park and lake, which can be overlooked by its external terrace. At night the vertical finned envelope is dramatically illuminated, ensuring it remains the eye catching heart of the Southwater redevelopment.

Benchmark for the Future

Southwater One has set an aspirational standard for Telford’s built environment. Through a mixture of bold design and sustainable considerations we’ve delivered an attractive and unique civic building. The sculpted envelope houses a stepped central atrium that is flooded with natural light, creating a bright and welcoming entrance for its many visitors. Escalators located in the centre of the atrium transport the building’s users between the library on the First floor to the waiting areas, booths, meeting spaces and other ‘First Point’ facilities on the floors above.

Throughout the design, energy efficient and sustainable solutions have been utilised, such as mixed mode ventilation, exposed thermal mass and solar powered fans. These have provided the Council with a building that is lean on energy costs and has ratings of EPC B and BREEAM Very Good.

Multi Award Winning

In 2015 the building received three RIBA Awards; Project, Client of the Year and Project Architect. The latter was awarded to recognise the architectural vision and our designer’s commitment to working creatively and collaboratively with the client. Many of our buildings have won RIBA awards over the years and we’re proud of every one, but for Southwater One to receive three awards was a clear indication we’d been a part of something truly special.