LEB Construction has completed the Sêr Cymru Laboratories project: to deliver state-of-the-art laboratory spaces in the Carwyn James building at Aberystwyth University. As the Principal Contractor on the project, LEB Construction delivered mechanical & electrical packages, flooring, suspended ceilings, structural works, windows & doors, blinds, furniture and decoration, creating state-of-the-art laboratory space.
The University is home to the Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis which delivers world class research into bovine tuberculosis and the new facilities will further enhance the University’s reputation in the field of veterinary research and zoonotic diseases.
LEB Construction won the project via competitive tender and work commenced in October last year, taking three months to complete.
The original two laboratories were split into three facilities, creating a flexible resource to support the research function. The larger space was divided into two creating an immunology lab and microbiology lab. These are supported by the third laboratory which functions as an analysis suite.
To foster a one-team culture for research studies, each laboratory is visible to the other, establishing a more connected and secure environment.
Air conditioning has been installed and the ceiling lowered. This, combined with plenty of natural light from the increased window area, creates an inspiring working environment. Automatic blinds allow for fluorescence microscopy which requires a dark room.
The room layout provides a clean and adaptable environment for the new, state-of-the-art equipment for fast and effective sample analysis. Moveable benches provide a flexible layout to support the retrofit of the equipment.
The project was handed over snag free, the work is snagged during the construction phase allowing a seamless, snag free handover to the client in line with our quality management system.
Professor Glyn Hewinson, Sêr Cymru Research Chair explains: “We are building a world class research facility here at Aberystwyth University so we demanded very high standards throughout, and I’m pleased to say that LEB Construction delivered.
“They were a pleasure to work with and proved to be flexible and amenable. The communication was excellent and we had regular progress visits with Luke and the team explaining new developments and the next steps.”
Luke Baker, managing director at LEB Construction concludes: “This is a really important investment for the University and will allow them to attract and retain the best talent from around the world. The standards expected by the client reflect this and as Principal Contractor, we made sure the entire team worked hard to ensure all aspects of the job were of the highest quality.
“This was particularly challenging as the project was completed during the height of the pandemic which caused significant issues with the supply of both specialist and day to day materials. Using our local network supply, and the flexibility of our team, we were able to work around the issues and still deliver on time.”
Sêr Cymru is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh Government.