Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Philip Lewis, managing director of the award-winning architectural firm the Lewis Partnership, of South Wales, said - “Cooperation and partnerships are the words which crop up again and again as we look forward to 2013. Increasingly, we are finding benefits from partnerships and alliances with construction firms and consultancies. “There is a big drive to produce eco-friendly, sustainable and environmentally-friendly buildings. If you can show evidence that you can work in tandem with other businesses to produce such buildings then your chances of securing more work are greatly improved. “We are now finding that local authorities are building up alliances which offer greater economy of scale and value for money for the taxpayer. “For example, the Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea City councils are forging their own new framework organisation to pick key contractors. “Securing places on local authority frameworks can be crucial. Investment in the right management an...

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd are playing a key role in the restoration of one of Llanelli’s most historic landmarks. Llanelli Town Hall is being refurbished and upgraded by Carmarthenshire Council. “As one of Llanelli’s favourite buildings, it is in need of some TLC, some tender, loving care,” said the Lewis Partnership Ltd’s managing director Philip Lewis. “As an older building, care must be taken to ensure it is properly maintained and our plan will tackle the usual routine problems which come with older buildings and prepare the Town Hall for a bright future. “The Town Hall is very much a cherished building in Llanelli and, as a town-based firm of architects, operating from headquarters just around the corner from the building, we are delighted to be helping with this work.” The Town Hall came into being after the old Local Board of Health first suggested the idea back in 1892. William Griffiths, Estate Agent of Thomas Street, Llanelli, provided t...

The award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd have been reappointed consultant architects to Llanelli Town Council. The Llanelli-based firm has accepted a five-year role with the local authority. “We are delighted to be chosen by Llanelli Town Council for the role,” said managing director Philip Lewis. “The Lewis Partnership is a firm with a strong commitment to the community in Llanelli. “We have a strong track record of working with the town council (and with other local authorities in South Wales) and we look forward to a successful relationship with the Llanelli authority. “As consultant architects, we will be responsible for the design of future town council projects. We will work closely with the council to ensure that the authority gets the best possible value for money in any new work.” Mr Lewis added: “We are a strong team at the Lewis Partnership using the very latest high-tech Autocad computer-aided design to complete projects. “We believe passionatel...

The award-winning Lewis Partnership is playing a key role in the £2million refurbishment of Llanelli’s Coleshill Social Centre.  The centre is being transformed into an innovative ‘one stop shop’ for disabled and disadvantaged people. “This is a very exciting project for Llanelli and we are very proud to be associated with it,” said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership. “As the architects for the project, we are closely involved with delivering the vision for the centre. “When it is complete, it will be called a ‘centre for economic inclusion’. “But that only goes a part of the way to describing the work which will go on there, “It will play a huge part in helping disabled and disadvantaged people to live independent lives.” Building work is progressing swiftly at the site on the edge of Llanelli’s People’s Park and should be completed by the end of May. Mr Lewis added: “This is a very innovative project for Llanelli involving all sorts of partnerships and ...

South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are helping to bring one of the most historic university sites in Wales bang up-to-date with a major makeover. The Lampeter campus of the University of Wales Trinity St David contains a mixture of historic buildings and more contemporary structures which need renovation. “Even the biggest fan of the Lampeter university campus would have to admit that some of the more modern buildings on site have been in need of a makeover, “said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership Ltd, of Llanelli. “There has been an university on the Lampeter site since the early part of the 19th century, so we considered ourselves very privileged to help bring a new, modern and vibrant look to buildings which were looking a little sad.” The £800,000 project is in the hands of WRW Construction, with all the design work carried out by the Llanelli-based Lewis Partnership. “It’s been challenging and interesting project for us as architects and ...

South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are playing their part in writing a new chapter in the history of historic Aberglasney House in the Tywi Valley. The Llanelli-based architects have been commissioned to draw up plans for the next phase of restoration at the mansion house which sits at the centre of the heritage gardens. “It is a great privilege and honour to play a part in the continued restoration work at Aberglasney,” said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership. “The restoration of the house and gardens has been a high profile exercise and the gardens are now one of the finest tourist attractions in Wales. “The latest restoration work at the house is billed as ‘Phase Five’ at Aberglasney. “The actual works involved are very extensive. They involve restoration of the main hall, the elegant staircase and restoring the interior of the East Wing and other rooms. “Naturally, for house with such great history a great deal of care and sensitivity has been req...

Award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership are playing their part in the development of a new school at Letterston in Pembrokeshire. The £4 million project is creating a new school for nearly 200 pupils, aged three to 11, on a site next to the existing Ysgol Ger y Llan at Letterston. Haverfordwest-based builders W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd are in charge of construction and the new school is expected to be completed this summer. The finished school will amalgamate two local schools, housing pupils from Ysgol Ger y Llan and Mathry School following an education reshuffle. The school will also provide community facilities. “As the architects in charge of the design work, we are thrilled to be involved with the project,” said the managing director of the Lewis Partnership, Philip Lewis. “We have been involved with other school projects for the local education authority, Pembrokeshire County Council, in the past and we were delighted to provide the winning desi...

A landmark housing association development in Haverfordwest is taking shape with the help of the award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership.  Pembrokeshire Housing is in charge of the development of 35 dwellings at land off Peregrine Close, Haverfordwest. The project has been designed by the Lewis Partnership of Llanelli. The building contractors are W.B. Griffiths & Son Ltd of Haverfordwest and the engineer is Roger Casey Associates of Carmarthen. The project is worth £3.2m, and the contractors will be on site for the next 18 months. “We are very excited about the project as it is the largest project of its kind in Pembrokeshire at the moment,” said Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership. “There is a great need for social housing in the area and the site uses an area of land that was derelict. “When it is completed, it will give the area a real lift and will help meet a great need for social housing in Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire Housing,...

It’s not often that a former pupil gets to play a part in reshaping his old school, but that’s what is happening at St Michael’s School in Bryn, Llanelli. ‘St Mike’s’ private and independent school is expanding to build a new boarding house wing. And the architect in charge of the project is former pupil Philip Lewis, managing director of the Lewis Partnership Ltd, of Llanelli. “I have fond memories of being a pupil at St Mike’s, so being able to play a significant role in its future development is a very proud moment for me,” said Mr Lewis. “The team here at the Lewis Partnership has been working very closely with St Michael’s to produce a design which passes that test with the leadership team at the school.” The first stage of the plan is for a 40-bed boarding house and new kitchen and dining facilities for the school. But that could be followed by another proposal for a further 40 beds and a sports hall. There’s also scope for the development of new car parking facilities and the...

A popular doctor’s surgery in the Tywi Valley is being extended for the second time with help from South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership. Meddygfa Tywi in Nantgaredig was first established in the mid-1990s. The new extension will provide additional facilities for patients and a new treatment room. The builders should be on site at the end of this month. Lewis Partnership managing director Philip Lewis said he was delighted that his firm was once again involved in extending the surgery. He said: “As architects, we were involved in the original building for Dr Anthony Davies and Dr Heather Evans. We added additional administration offices in 2002.” The £100,000 project will be completed by the end of July. The successful Contractor is Mike Hiorns Building Contractor Ltd of Llanelli. The Meddygfa Tywi surgery has a practice area covering a wide rural area - some 2,500 square miles in total. The surgery is also a dispensing practice with a full range of practice and attached staff...

The award-winning South Wales architects the Lewis Partnership Ltd have this week launched their new website. “The new website reflects our determination to keep up to speed with all the latest technology,” said managing director Philip Lewis. “In our day-to-day business, we use high-tech Autocad computer-aided design, so it was appropriate that we looked at the tools we use to promote ourselves in the high-speed internet age. “In addition to launching a new website ( http://www.lewispartnership.co.uk ), we have also put ourselves on Facebook and Twitter to engage with our clients and customers. “The new website and the social media will help us promote the business throughout South Wales and beyond.” Mr Lewis, pictured above, added: “Although we are based in Llanelli (at Park Crescent), our work takes us all over South Wales, from Bridgend to Pembroke Dock and northwards to Lampeter.  “These are exciting times for us, with a number of design jobs throughout the area and we...

Philip Lewis, managing director of the award-winning architectural firm the Lewis Partnership, of South Wales, gives his views on what 2012 holds – These are uncertain times, but architecture is about building for the future. As one of the leading firms in South Wales, we have to be optimistic about 2012. It may seem like a simple wish, but it is surely not beyond our own Welsh Government to look at providing greater investment opportunities in the building industry. A much-needed stimulus for the building industry will help create employment – and everyone in Wales can feel the mutual benefit from more jobs. As architects, we are keenly aware of the need to produce eco-friendly, sustainable and environmentally-friendly buildings. The focus on energy savings will become ever more important during 2012 and those businesses who use cutting-edge technology and techniques to keep at the forefront of environmental issues will be the ones that succeed. Partnerships will be prized and valu...