Swansea Civic Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swansea Civic Centre |
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Canolfan Ddinesig Abertawe
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Swansea Civic Centre
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| Former names | County Hall |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Brutalist style |
| Location | Swansea, Wales |
| Address | Oystermouth Road, Swansea |
| Coordinates | 51°36′49.00″N 3°56′54.00″W / 51.6136111°N 3.9483333°W |
| Inaugurated | 1982 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | C. W. Quick |
Swansea Civic Centre (which in Welsh is Canolfan Ddinesig Abertawe) is a really important building in Swansea, Wales. It used to be called County Hall. This building is where the Swansea Council does most of its work. It's located right by the sea, about 800 meters southwest of the city center, with great views of Swansea Bay.
Inside the Civic Centre, you'll find the main offices for the council. It also has a public cafe, the city's main library, a place for exhibitions, and a special service for old records called archives. There's also a contact center where people can get help and information.
Contents
History of Swansea's Civic Centre
Why a New Building Was Needed
Back in 1972, a new law changed how local government worked in Wales. This law created new councils, including West Glamorgan County Council. At first, this new council met at Swansea Guildhall. However, they had to share the building with Swansea Council.
This sharing arrangement wasn't ideal, so the leaders of the new county council decided they needed their own building. They chose a spot that used to be a railway goods yard. This yard was part of the old Mumbles Railway.
Building Design and Opening
The new building was designed by C. W. Quick. He worked for the West Glamorgan County Architects Department. The building was made in a style called Brutalist style. This style often uses strong, block-like shapes and raw concrete.
The building was constructed by two companies: French Kier built the first part, and A. Monk built the second part. It officially opened in July 1982 and was known as County Hall. The design featured long lines of windows with special panels above and below them.
Royal Visit and Name Change
A few years after it opened, Queen Elizabeth II visited the building. She came with the Duke of Edinburgh on April 20, 1989.
In 1996, local government was changed again. The West Glamorgan County Council was no longer needed. The building then became the property of Swansea Council. On March 19, 2008, its name was changed to Swansea Civic Centre.
As part of a big update, the main Swansea library moved into the Civic Centre. This library became very popular. In one year (ending March 31, 2009), people borrowed almost 566,000 books! This made it the busiest library in Wales and one of the busiest in the whole UK.
Future Plans for the Area
In January 2016, Swansea Council announced plans to update the area around the Civic Centre. The second part of these plans might involve taking down the Swansea Civic Centre building. In its place, they hope to create a "city beach." This new area could also include an aquarium and a digital science center.
In May 2021, a group called the Twentieth Century Society added the Civic Centre to their "Top 10 Buildings at Risk" list. This means they believe the building is important and should be protected.
