Open International Competition for Glyndwr University, Wrexham

The RIBA Competitions Office is launching an International Open Design Competition on behalf of Glyndwr University, Wrexham. 

The competition seeks designs for new student residences to accommodate 500 students as part of a broader strategy to accommodate undergraduates and graduates on campus and increase the provision for student services. The University's campus lies on the outskirts of Wrexham and consists of a main campus at Plas Coch and Regent Street and other smaller sites at Yale Business Village, Redwither Towers, Rhosnesni and Gatewen.  The University also has a campus in Flintshire, in partnership with the Welsh College of Horticulture.  

Entrants will be asked to produce design concepts for the accommodation which will include provision for a Student Services Building (The Hub) which is to incorporate a refectory, offices and communal rooms.   The University has aspirations for a scheme of the highest architectural quality and practices with exceptional design skills are encouraged to apply. 

Peter Rhodes, Head of Estates, spoke of his excitement at the launch of the project. He said: "As a new, young university committed to the spirits of enterprise, we felt there would be nothing better than to invite top class architects to help shape the future look of our Wrexham campus. We're investing heavily in improving on-campus facilities over the next few years and the new student residences is just one part of this project. I'm sure we can look forward to receiving some innovative and inventive designs".

The new residences will be built adjacent to the Student Village, to the north of Glyndwr University's Plas Coch site, and are scheduled to be ready for use by early spring 2010.

The competition brief will be available to download from www.ribaglyndwruniversity.co.uk| and the deadline for submission of stage one designs is Friday 31 October 2008.