The University of South Wales regularly undertakes multi-million pound investment programmes to ensure students get the best possible learning experience.

Since 2006, this exciting series of developments have been radically changing the shape of our student and staff facilities, across the University.

Please use the links below to find out more about some of our most impressive development projects. If you have any queries, please contact the Projects Team. 

"The University of South Wales is committed to the delivery of a first class learning environment incorporating the use of cutting edge learning facilities: a learning environment in which students flourish and grow, academically and socially.” 
Vice-Chancellor, Julie Lydon

The original ATRiuM building was completed and opened in 2007, providing a brand-new facility in the heart of the capital city for our Creative Industries students. The second phase of development of the ATRiuM was announced in early 2012. In common with many major development projects, it was phased in two stages, ATRiuM 2A and ATRiuM 2B.

ATRiuM 2A

Phase two of the landmark ATRiuM campus in Cardiff saw a two-storey extension to the west of the original building adding a students’ union bar and large refectory.

The expansion caters to growing demand from Cardiff’s business community, such as the creative industries’ increasing need for graduates in broadcasting, animation, and the performing arts. It also reflects the growing needs of the financial and professional services sector in the city’s enterprise zone.

This phase was complete and ready to welcome students in September 2014.

ATRiuM 2B

The ATRiuM ‘2B’ project added additional space to house state of the art learning and teaching facilities for our Creative Industries students in Cardiff.

The five storey building extended the existing Atrium building eastwards, using undeveloped land already owned by the University and was ready to welcome students at the start of the 2016/17 academic year.

Plans for the exact use of the interior space were developed in consultation with staff and students through the Cardiff Campus working group, and the building houses extensive design studio facilities for illustration, advertising, graphic communication, TV and film set design and interior design as well as our three fashion courses.

Two dance studios, drama rehearsal spaces and a substantial photographic studio, with additional image capture and finishing were also part of the plans, as well as new fabrication workshop facilities to support our media, performance and design courses and model making facilities for animation.

The building has been designed to provide specialist facilities and space where students can develop their creative work in a professional environment. Open study and practice areas will offer bases for students from all of our Creative Industries courses to work independently or in groups, typifying the collaborative way in which the Creative Industries work.

September 2013 saw the completion of the £5.25m development of B Block in Treforest, to create a new, modern and highly visible frontage for the University’s main campus.

The project saw the re-designation of the university’s physical presence on Llantwit Road from a tired 1980s-esque polytechnic into a modern, distinctive higher education institution.

The project included the demolition of parts of the building to make way for enhanced student facilities, including a brand-new 304-seat, state-of-the-art lecture theatre.

Front and side aspects of the building, overlooking Ty Crawshay and Llantwit Road, have been transformed into an airy and spacious glass-fronted lobby area, visible to the public and providing an impressive aspect for students and visitors to the University.

The remainder of the building, B2 and B3, have been refurbished to create a series of new and modern multipurpose teaching facilities to enhance provision on our main campus. Flexible, open plan office space have been created for some support departments.

This development forms part of the University’s ongoing multi-million investment in its campuses to create modern facilities for students and staff.

The £28m project to modernise and refurbish the Library & Student Centre in Treforest was officially opened in February 2014.

Home to the majority of the university’s printed and electronic learning materials, the Library & Student Centre is a key focus for students studying in Treforest.

Plans included the redesigning the front entrance of the building to create an impressive modern structure and improved access to the building for wheelchair users.

Inside, a significant refurbishment of the layout of rooms and facilities have created a more efficient use of space. All student facing support services have been re-housed under one roof to create a one-stop-shop experience for students seeking support. 

Phase Two of the development of Ty Crawshay, on the Treforest campus, completed in September 2011, delivering a brand new, modern postgraduate centre, complete with spacious open-plan social learning areas, meeting rooms, reception and study areas.

Located on first floor of Ty Crawshay, the Postgraduate Centre provides social and work space specifically for postgraduate students.

The historic Ty Crawshay building dates back to the early 1800s and is the former home of the school of Mines.

View more images of the Postgraduate Centre on Flickr.

In September 2010 a brand-new, £5million Students’ Union building opened on the University’s main campus in Treforest.

This modern, iconic facility has become the social hub of the campus, designed to meet every need of our students, housing support services, events, clubs, societies and community projects and, of course, the all-important nightclub and bars. Take a virtual tour.

The whole building is Wi-Fi connected and features a variety of cafés and bars where you can buy coffees, smoothies, subs and salads. In the Union bar’s warm and friendly atmosphere, you can catch live sport on the big screen, enjoy a meal, or chill out on the sun terrace. If you like your entertainment live and loud, there is plenty to keep you busy – from live bands, comedy and cinema to club nights and cheesy discos.

Facilities

Lower ground floor: Cable’s Bar; The Basement entertainments venue; Nightclub; Cash machine; Union Shop; Hair salon; Beauty Room; Glamorgan Letting Agents.

Ground floor: Randy Dragon Bar; Reflections Café; Endsleigh Student Learning Suite; Quiet lounge; External terrace.

First floor: Staff offices & support services; Clubs and Societies offices; bookable meeting rooms.

A new purpose-built Students’ Union opened at our Cardiff campus in 2009. This new facility provides our Cardiff students with a bar, café, social space and entertainment venue, as well as student support services.

Facilities

Bar, Café, Social space, Shop, Student support and Clubs and Societies office

Glyntaff - Health, Sport and Science Campus

The £15m refurbishment of our Glyntaff campus opened in September 2009, providing a vibrant, state-of-the-art learning environment to enhance teaching and support facilities for Science and Sport courses.

The Upper Glyntaff site now features a brand new purpose built laboratory block, the George Knox Building, for sports, chemistry, biology, medical and forensic science students, as well as for students on geography and environmental-related courses. Among the facilities, the laboratories house an environmental chamber to simulate high altitude, low-pressure and low-oxygen scenarios. The refurbished grade II listed former grammar school, the Alfred Russell Wallace Building, features earth science laboratories, sports facilities, including physiology labs, IT suites, and a social learning environment. The building also houses specialist crime scene suites, including forensic odontology and crime scene labs which overlook a dedicated Scenes of Crime house, the Professor Bernard Knight Building, a real domestic house set up for crime scene scenarios.

Modern research facilities include bioreactor laboratories looking at alternative fuel production, advanced analytical laboratories with state-of-the art instrumentation for examining environmental contaminants and dedicated laboratories for molecular and forensic biology. The new science block will also house an environmental chamber to simulate high altitude, low pressure and low oxygen scenarios.

Our Police Science students and staff have now relocated to newly refurbished premises in the Elaine Morgan Building on the lower Glyntaff campus, which also now houses the Faculty’s student advice shop, brand-new catering facilities, students’ union, and a social learning space with open access computer terminals.

USW Sport Park (formerly known as Glamorgan Sport Park) is a £3.7 million purpose-built development to enhance the provision of academic sporting facilities at the University. It was officially opened on 25th November by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. International Rugby teams have recently trained at the facilities and the Cardiff City Youth Academy is based there.

The facility sits alongside the University’s existing playing fields at Tyn Y Wern outdoor sports pitches and is the first sports centre in the UK to receive a BREEAM excellent rating for its facilities, which include a national-standard six badminton court sports hall with sprung floor, strength and conditioning room laboratory testing facilities and IT, teaching and training rooms.

View more pictures of the Sport Park on Flickr

Facilities

Sports hall; Student social area; First aid rooms; Changing rooms

First floor: Strength and conditioning room; Sports science laboratory and fitness testing areas; Notational Analysis room; Teaching/training rooms; Seated viewing galleries; Meeting/function room.

In 2010, the £1.5 million Aircraft Maintenance Centre opened on Treforest campus, complete with a full size Jetstream 31 aircraft.

The training Centre has been built to give aircraft maintenance students the practical in-demand skills they will need in industry. The development also provides students access to aerospace laboratories and equipment including a gas turbine engine, wind tunnel and Merlin MP521 engineering flight simulator.

inside view of the brecon building at Pontypridd campus, Treforest. Seating area inside the main entrance of the building with ceiling to floor windows and red sofas
Cardiff Campus Students' Union
Exterior shot of USW's Sport Park
Exterior view of the University's Cardiff Campus.