Helmont House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Helmont House |
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Helmont House
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| General information | |
| Type | Hotel and Offices |
| Location | Cardiff, Wales |
| Address | Churchill Way, Cardiff city centre CF10 2NB |
| Coordinates | 51°28′52″N 3°10′16″W / 51.481°N 3.171°W |
| Current tenants | Premier Inn Meltwater Group NewLaw Legal Ltd T/A NewLaw Solicitors Quote Exchange Ltd Horwich Farrelly Solicitors, Cardiff. |
| Completed | 1984 |
| Owner | Rightacres |
| Height | 58 metres (190 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Floor area | 155,000 sq ft (14,400 m2) |
Helmont House is a tall building in Cardiff, Wales. It has offices and a hotel inside. This building was finished in 1984. It stands 58 meters (190 feet) high and has 12 floors. It is the 15th tallest building in Cardiff. In 2009, it was updated to become a large Premier Inn hotel with 200 rooms.
Before it became a hotel, the building was used by British Gas. It was one of the biggest office buildings in Cardiff. It is very close to Cardiff Queen Street railway station.
Building's History
When British Gas became a private company in 1986, fewer than 600 people worked in its Cardiff office. By 1998, this office became the main sales center for all of Britain. Before British Gas moved out, about 2,400 people worked at Helmont House. Most of them worked in the call center.
In 2009, British Gas moved its main office for Wales to a new building. This new office was 7,000 square meters (70,000 square feet) and was located at Callaghan Square. After British Gas left, a company called Rightacres bought Helmont House. The building was worth more than £10 million at that time.
Rightacres decided to change Helmont House into a hotel. In 2009, it became a Premier Inn hotel with 200 rooms. Premier Inn signed a 25-year agreement to use the building. This hotel became the largest in Cardiff based on the number of beds.
Even with the hotel, some parts of Helmont House are still used as offices. About 5,600 square meters (60,000 square feet) of space is for offices. A law firm called NewLaw Solicitors rents 4,200 square meters (45,000 square feet) of this office space.
Helmont House has also appeared on television! It was shown in episodes of the TV shows Doctor Who ("Partners in Crime") and Torchwood in 2007. Both of these popular series are filmed in Cardiff.
Building Design
The unique, angular shape of Helmont House was inspired by a style of art called Cubist. Famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were known for their Cubist artwork. This art style uses geometric shapes and sharp angles.
Where to Find Helmont House
Helmont House is in a great spot in Cardiff. It is very close to the main shopping areas, like Queen Street and St David's. You can easily walk to Cardiff Queen Street railway station. The main Cardiff Central Bus and Railway Stations are also just a short walk away.
The building is also one of the closest hotels to the Cardiff International Arena. This makes it a convenient place to stay if you are visiting for an event.
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