Construction of a new academic building at the University of South Wales Treforest Campus in Pontypridd is underway.
Construction of a new academic building at the University of South Wales Treforest Campus in Pontypridd is underway. The start of construction was in September 2024 with BAM construction appointed as the main contractor for the state of the art teaching and research facility, which will focus on STEM, and is designed to create the next generation of engineers, data and computer scientists.
The five storey building, named Calon, will be constructed on the Pontypridd campus following the demolition of two buildings in recent years. Featuring more than 40 teaching, learning and research spaces and state of the art technology, it will include electronics and hydraulics labs, a flight simulator, a robotics lab, clean and industrial research spaces, collaborative teaching spaces, a virtual reality capability, and exhibition spaces.
Calon will have 11,500 square metres of floor space and is scheduled to open in September 2026. BAM construction is working with Stride Treglown architects and Arup engineers as well as a number of other contractors to ensure that the project stays on track and is delivered on time.
The design team worked closely with the faculty from all of the departments to create flexible and collaborative spaces that are also accessible for everyone that uses the building. As part of the construction process, Peter Marshall Steel Stairs engaged with the project in February 2025 and after engaging with various parties on the design and development, fabrication of the steel stairs began in September 2025. Our team worked on the truss stairs for the south atrium of the building, and the long spanning flat stairs for the north atrium. The truss stairs are 15 metres long, 2 metres wide and 2 metres high and weigh 9 tonnes, making them the biggest set the team has ever worked on. The visually striking stairs are a central feature of the workspaces on the ground floor.
Construction has been underway on the site for a year and after ground stabilisation work was completed, the foundations were laid. This involved the installation of 186 individual 750mm diameter concrete piles, which were driven down 15 metres to reach stable ground. Almost 1,000 tonnes of reinforced steel has been used to construct the framework for 23 metre high building.
The local community is heavily involved with the project and 75% of project spend is being placed locally to benefit the local economy. Apprentice and training opportunities are also being provided throughout the course of the build, with more than 1,000 weeks being offered. This offer a hands-on learning experience to many current students at the university.
Sustainability and environmental factors played an important role in the design of the building, which align with the university’s goal of being carbon net zero by 2040. Calon will not use natural gas and will be powered by heat pumps with energy provided by solar panels on the roof. It is designed to meet high targets for energy efficiency in operation and low levels of embodied carbon.
The new building will keep the University of South Wales at the forefront of STEM education and offer its students first class learning and research facilities
