Changing Rooms with Adult Learning Wales

Over the summer holiday, Adult Learning Wales’ Coopers Yard Office in Cardiff received a facelift, including a new layout to make the venue more accessible for its staff, learners, and visitors. The four-week renovation project saw all staff members vacate the office space to allow the contractors and builders to operate with minimal disruption to ALW’s operations.

The main purpose of the project was to move all the learning spaces and classrooms to the ground floor alongside the relevant tutors having office space to be closer to the learners if required. This includes a newly installed soundproofed prayer room and a quiet break out space for learners to use as required. The operational staff have been relocated upstairs to the first floor, which includes a new floor layout with new meeting rooms.

The extensive project has been more than just a lick of paint. New walls and door frames have been installed; electrical cables have been replaced and rerouted through the walls, ceiling and floor; new fire doors have been installed across the building; floor tiles and skirting have been replaced, and TV stands and teaching boards have been repositioned in the relevant learning areas. All IT equipment has been reinstalled into the relevant learner areas, and additional PowerPoints are now in place alongside new computer hardware to support the progressive nature of digital technology. Feature walls have been painted to match ALW’s branding colours, and new office chairs will be ready for learners at the start of term.

The project has been overseen by ALW’s Health, Safety Environment and Estates Manager, Dawn Rogers. Dawn said:

“Late spring this year, I was excited to take on the challenge of optimising the floor space in our Cardiff office. The objective was to enhance our workspace by adding additional staff meeting rooms and strategically relocating several teams across the two floors. By prioritising the learner experience, we moved curriculum staff to the ground floor, ensuring that all learner resources are conveniently located together, promoting inclusivity and accessibility to our learners.”

“My proposal included the creation of two staff meeting rooms, a versatile multi-purpose room that can serve as a safe space for prayer or quiet reflection, and a secure confidential storage area. I focused on designing these spaces to eliminate risks, incorporating soundproofing, safety measures, and efficient use of space. To ensure a comprehensive approach, l engaged in discussions with key managers to gather diverse insights from staff who would occupy these new areas. This collaborative effort allowed me to finalise our proposals and outline the next steps leading up to the closure and reopening of the building.”

“During the refurbishment, I oversaw the project with ALW’s assigned contractor to ensure a smooth execution that met organisational standards and timescales. The project certainly enabled me to wear many hats in supporting various areas and teams ensuring the project ran to schedule. Embracing this complex challenge has been incredibly rewarding. Witnessing my ideas come to life and transforming our workspace into a more functional and inspiring environment for our staff and learners was truly fulfilling.”

Over the course of the project, Dawn has kept a daily log of activities and taken pictures of the work as it developed. This has given a true insight into the depth of work undertaken and also led to a few surprises with some members of staff, including Mark Baines (Head of Curriculum), Cath Hicks (Head of Learner Services) and Adrian Heathfield (MIS & Technology Manager) all helping out to get the project over the line when it was safe to do so. The project has been completed ahead of schedule. A selection of images from Dawn’s diary can be found below.

Dawn added:

“I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the staff for their invaluable contributions, which fostered a strong sense of teamwork and appreciation, essential elements for the success of this project. Together, we have created a workspace that I feel not only meets our needs but inspires collaboration and growth.”

The Coopers Yard Office has already welcomed staff back into the workspace and is looking forward to both learners and tutors returning to the building for the start of term on Monday 9 September.