Bridgend College – Flagship Project & Ceremony
Brookbanks is proud to have delivered the civil and structural engineering design for Bridgend College’s transformative new town centre campus. This is a landmark £50 million development that will provide 13,000m² of state-of-the-art educational space across two buildings.
This ambitious scheme, designed by Rio Architects, is a cornerstone of Bridgend’s regeneration strategy and a vital investment in the future of education and opportunity in South Wales.
Engineering Innovation & Value
From concept stage, Reuby & Stagg, now part of Brookbanks, worked closely with the planning and detailed design teams to develop a robust and efficient structural solution. Our early involvement enabled us to deliver a £750,000 saving on the original consultant-provided tender structure at RIBA Stage 3, demonstrating our commitment to intelligent design and cost-effective delivery.
The main building features an 8-storey concrete flat slab structure, alongside a steel-framed, clear-spanning theatre, providing a space designed to inspire creativity and performance. What’s more, the site’s unique geology, being located over a backfilled quarry, required specialist engineering solutions including advanced piling techniques and void-spanning foundations to ensure long-term stability and safety.
Supporting the Community Through Design
As a further education institution, Bridgend College plays a vital role in shaping futures and supporting local aspirations. This new campus will enhance access to education, foster innovation, and serve as a vibrant hub for students, staff, and the wider community. This was done through the construction of two new buildings at Cheapside that will provide exceptional teaching and learning facilities, including a 200-seat theatre, hair and beauty salons, recording and dance studios, design workshops, and more.
We’re proud to have contributed to a project that will have such a lasting social impact, creating spaces that support learning, creativity, and growth.
Expanding Our Presence in South Wales
This project marks a flagship scheme for Brookbanks in South Wales, and reflects our growing footprint in the region. With the opening of our Cardiff office in early 2026, we’re excited to deepen our engagement with local clients and partners, bringing our expertise closer to the communities we serve.
Bridgend College is a testament to our capability and commitment in the region. We look forward to continuing to support South Wales with high-quality, sustainable engineering solutions.
Celebrating Progress: Topping Out Ceremony
On Monday, we celebrated a major milestone with the topping out ceremony for this fantastic project, a proud moment for everyone involved. Members of our Brookbanks team attended to mark the occasion, including Chris Vivian (Group Director for Structural Engineering), Jacob James (Senior Structural Engineer) and Andrew Wilkinson (Director) who heads up our Cardiff office and whose Welsh heritage adds a personal connection to this landmark project.
The ceremony was a celebration of collaboration, progress, and the people behind the project. It was a chance to reflect on the journey so far and look ahead to the positive impact this campus will have on the community.
We’re excited to see Bridgend College’s new campus come to life and proud to have been part of a project that exemplifies our technical excellence, community focus, and growing presence in South Wales!
Key Team Members
Director
Andrew Wilkinson
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Group Director for Structural Engineering
Chris Vivian
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Senior Structural Engineer
Jacob James
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Welcome to our March 2026 newsletter. In this issue, we’ll tell you more about how we help SMEs prioritise what matters, avoid the common financial traps, and get projects moving, backed by our experienced team who have real housebuilding experience. We’re looking back on our March webinar, where Jack Kenny and Paul Rushmer gave an overview of how to optimise mechanical and electrical designs specifically for high-risk buildings. Plus, we’ll highlight this month’s podcasts! The first explored where structural engineering and building services design overlap, and why good coordination is so important to project delivery. In episode two, Hannah Simpson, Fran Walker, and Isabelle Latuszka spoke about their early-career experiences and how diverse backgrounds add real value to projects. Below, you’ll also get to hear about some exciting awards news and an event we’re co-hosting with the LPDF in Manchester.