Exclusive preview of new sporting facilities in Wales

A fly through video of a brand new sporting facility currently being built at the University of South Wales (USW) has been released.

The video shows what the state-of-the-art extension at the USW Sport Park, located near to the University’s Pontypridd Campus in Treforest, will look like when it opens early next year.

Leading independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard, which has an office in Cardiff, is delivering project and cost management services on the scheme that is on site at the moment.

Mike Petersen, director at Pick Everard said: “This new facility will provide the very best in modern sporting facilities for the University – and will include the very first full-size indoor 3G football pitch in Wales.

“We have a great deal of experience of working within the higher education sector and are very pleased to be working with the University of South Wales on what is an important project.”

An internal full size 3G playing surface will be a key feature of the new facility, meeting the FIFA standards for football and World Rugby standards. The Sport Park will also house a specialist centre for strength and conditioning, with 12 lifting platforms, changing rooms, teaching rooms, and offices. In total there will be an extra 9500 sq ft of space.

Dr Martin Steggall, dean of the faculty of life sciences and education said: “The introduction of world-class facilities at our USW Sport Park will not only benefit students on our sport courses and our students that represent the university in a variety of sports, but also build on some of the sector-leading research in to physiology, strength and condition, and sports psychology, to name just a few of our strengths.

“The facility is already well used by the local community and professional teams, and this is something that we hope to expand on in the future.

“We are not only investing in pitches, but also in strength and conditioning and analysis facilities that will support our students in developing all aspects of their sporting excellence.”

The facility is being built by Kier Construction and was designed by Atkins. Pick Everard was appointed to the scheme through the Scape Project Management and Quantity Surveying framework, which has since been superseded by the Scape Built Environment Consultancy Services framework.

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive said: “This project is a fantastic example of intelligent, highly efficient design, and will create a first rate research facility for University of South Wales students and staff.

“By using our framework, the scheme will utilise a local supply chain network and create training opportunities for local people.”

Pick Everard works with many major organisations within the Wales and South West region; these include blue chip organisations such as EDF Energy and National Grid, public sector bodies including South Wales Police, Cardiff, Swansea and Aberystwyth Universities, and contractors including Wilmott Dixon and Kier.

The firm employs more than 450 consultancy staff across the UK, providing a range of project, cost and design consultancy services. It has 11 UK offices.