Design Stage of Visitor Engagement Building at National Park Visitor Centre

Tender description

Address Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre Libanus Brecon Powys LD3 8ER Background and Aims: The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has been engaging on several projects to improve the visitor experience at its National Park Visitor Centre located 6 miles outside of Brecon. The Centre has seen refurbishments to its information centre, craft shop and café, along with the introduction of a new children’s play area. This winter will see improvements made to disabled access through delivery of improved pathways, new disabled parking facilities and the introduction of a fully compliant Changing Places facility. The Visitor Centre is also a hub for the Wales Way and has recently seen the introduction of a large interactive touch map of the Brecon Beacons. The Centre has also benefitted from investment in green technology infrastructure, such as solar panels, battery storage, and a programme of insulation improvements. The above improvements, have however, seen the loss of the small classroom space that was adjoining the information centre, as this space has been repurposed to make way for the above improvements as well as improve visitor space and flow. This space was used as a classroom, a meeting room for Authority business, as well as hired out to local businesses and organisations. When used as a classroom by the Authorities education team, it would welcome over 5000 children per year to enjoy a National Park experience. The Visitor Centre is also a focal point for the National Parks Dark Skies designation, and the Centre runs numerous Dark Sky events during the year. This has recently been enhanced by the purchase of an inflatable planetarium, which allows visitors to learn more about our dark skies. Due to the space requirements of the planetarium, we currently do not have an indoor space within the Authority to use this equipment and must hire external facilities. The aim of our next phase of improvements is to introduce a new stand-alone multi-purpose visitor engagement building that will allow us to not only be able to deliver the services lost due to the loss of the classroom, but to allow the Centre to explore further opportunities to engage with visitors to the National Park and to the Visitor Centre. Budget: To completion of RIBA Stage 4 £25,000 Design style: The style and materials pallet should be appropriate to the natural landscape in which it will sit. It is intended that this facility will be an exemplar of best environmental practice and clean, simple design, sensitively locating the structure in its setting and running on sustainable low carbon lines. The site has access to water, electric and mains sewerage and has an LPG gas tank situated near to the main building. We require high quality expert design and advice in delivering a multi-purpose visitor facility, providing low carbon/ green solutions to visitor infrastructure. The design should take into consideration all the elements laid out in the Key Requirements section. Reasons for the project/ intended activities: The National Park Visitor Centre attracts over 130,000 visitors per year, and as such makes it one of the most visited attractions within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its iconic location, giving breath taking views of Pen y Fan and the wider Central Brecon Beacons is its key selling point. The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s 2nd Purpose is to promote the understanding and enjoyment of the National Park, and the development of this multi-purpose Visitor Engagement building is seen as a key delivery tool to meet this purpose. The Authority continues to engage with young learners from all key stages, and as part of its commitment to Welsh Governments Future Generations Act and the new school curriculum, we are committed to engaging with as many young learners as possible, with an aim that all children will have a National Park experience during their school years. While the aim is to ensure