National Assembly for Wales

The National Assembly for Wales was constructed on Cardiff’s developing Waterfront to an enlightened Clients’ demanding requirements encompassing a total team ethic from conception to completion. The Mechanical and Electrical services were sourced through the Taylor Woodrow Strategic Alliance Partnership (SAP) with MJN Colston Limited being selected on this occasion as the Strategic Alliance Partner working in tandem with all members of the team for this ground breaking prestigious project. Good business and personal relationships and a pragmatic, non-adversarial approach to production characterised the management style on site.

The environmental design incorporated a number of particular design strategies / features that included the use of natural ventilation, natural daylight, ground source heat exchangers coupled with heat pumps (to heat and cool the building), biomass boiler, grey water harvesting and intelligent controls of both active and passive environmental systems etc. Mechanical services systems comprise: air-conditioning, heating, ventilation, DHW, potable water and rainwater harvesting.

Electrical services systems comprise: power distribution, earthing, lightning protection, artificial lighting and life safety systems. The technical installations are geared around avoiding sophistication, adopting standard technology and the application of simple yet robust components. The project demonstrated best practise in terms of collaborative working to deliver this landmark project on time and within budget and is an example in what can be achieved in terms of environmental engineering when carried out within a total team environment.

MJN Colston Ltd were able to participate in the development of the design with both the Architect and BDSP, the building services design engineers. Building Services Awards The issue here was not just one of design co-ordination but one of the whole team understanding the design brief which included meeting the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities for sustainable development as follows:-

  • Minimise Energy Consumption and Waste
  • Low Carbon Emissions
  • BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Rating
  • To be an ‘Exemplar’ Building in Terms of Sustainability
  • Design Life of 100 Years
  • Building exceeds Governments Best Practise Guidelines
  • Use of Indigenous Materials
  • Application of Renewable Technologies

This project picked up the “Major Project of the Year” award at the 2006 Building Services awards. MJN Colston received the award in partnership with BDSP.

Project Team

  • Client - National Assembly for Wales
  • Project Managers - TPS SCHAL
  • Main Contractor - Taylor Woodrow Construction
  • Architect - Richard Rogers Partnership
  • Structural Engineers - Arup
  • Services Engineers - BDSP Partnership Ltd
  • Quantity Surveyors - Northcroft
  • Services value - £7.2 million