BBC Cymru Wales HQ, Cardiff – Novoform Case Study
Commissioned to be the brand new, state of the art headquarters for BBC Cymru, the BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House, is an incredible feat. Located in the heart of the bustling city centre, the project came with a whole host of unique challenges.
Discover how Novoform was used to aid in the completion of the project in our case study below.
Project Background
Despite its history, BBC Cymru Wales had finally outgrown their previous home. Built back in the 1960s, the old Broadcasting House in Llandaff just couldn’t keep up with the times and bosses were forced to look at creating a brand-new headquarters.
With an investment of over £100m, the new HQ was designed with the future of the organisation and its staff at the heart.
They secured a prime location on the site of the old bus station in the heart of the Capital Square Regeneration Scheme and Architect Lord Norman Foster designed the five-storey building with a floor area of over 150,000ft2.
Project Details
Location: Cardiff City Centre
Main Contractor: ISG Group
Sub-Contractor: Churngold Construction Ltd
Product Details: 2800m2 Novoform used
“Traditional formwork methods would have seriously jeopardised the completion of the groundworks on time. Coupled with the fact that there was very limited space on site, deliveries needed to arrive at the exact times they were required to reduce materials hanging around site. With the Novoform system, this is exactly what we requested, and exactly what we received.”
Why was Novoform chosen as the formwork solution?
Due to the scope of the project, it’s location and the incredibly tight schedule, it was clear to contractors, Churngold Construction, that Novoform was the only realistic solution – for the following reasons:
The project was based in the busy capital city of Cardiff and had extremely limited access. This meant that deliveries had to abide by a strict and challenging timetable.
Some of the foundation bases used were over 2 metres deep; these required strong steel reinforced Novoform formwork panels.
With carefully planned and scheduled deliveries of Novoform panels, the contractors were able to prevent taking up valuable space with on-site storage whilst also avoiding long exposure of exposed foundations.
The design of some of the site’s foundations were only achievable following excavation, which resulted in the need for a fast response from our technical team and a speedy turnaround of Novoform formwork.
Novoform systems require minimal digging, which proved critical with the limited space available on site.
Due to its ease of installation, Novoform formwork panels were able to be placed rapidly – without the need for skilled labour, saving both time and money on the project.
By providing continued support, combined with our ability to react quickly and efficiently, we were able to ensure the site stayed on programme throughout the project.
The Benefits of Novoform
Here at Naylor Novoform, we’re passionate about taking the work out of formwork. Don’t believe us? Check out the various benefits below:
Fast installations prevent holding up schedules and reduces time on site
No need for skilled labourers or specialised training due to the ease of installation
No on-site storage required, we deliver your materials as and when you need them – always on time.
Lightweight design, yet highly durable and incredibly strong
A modern and cost-effective alternative to traditional formwork methods
Interested in using Novoform for your next groundwork project?
Contact our dedicated sales team today for a detailed quote. Simply call 01427 617 547 or email us at sales@naylor-novoform.co.uk.