Meridian Gate, Cardiff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meridian Gate |
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Radisson Blu hotel (left) and Meridian Plaza (right)
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| General information | |
| Type | Residential and Hotel |
| Location | Cardiff, Wales |
| Address | Bute Terrace, Cardiff city centre |
| Coordinates | 51°28′37″N 3°10′25″W / 51.4769°N 3.1737°W |
| Construction started | 2007 |
| Completed | 2009 |
| Cost | £30,000,000/$34,083,000 |
| Client | Imperial Properties Ltd |
| Owner | Radisson Blu (hotel), Delph (apartments) |
| Height | 63 metres |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 21 |
| Floor area | 250,000 sq ft |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Wigley Fox Architects.ltd |
| Structural engineer | RVW |
| Services engineer | McCann |
| Other designers | John Wootton, Miller Group, Distinction Contract (Furnishings) |
| Main contractor | Miller Group |
Meridian Gate (Welsh: Porth Meridian) is a tall building complex in Cardiff, Wales. It includes a hotel and apartments. This complex has two main buildings. The taller building is 63 metres high and has 21 floors. It is home to a Radisson Blu hotel. This makes it one of the tallest buildings in Cardiff. The smaller building, called Meridian Plaza, is 33 metres high. It has 11 floors and contains fancy apartments.
Contents
Building History: How Meridian Gate Was Built
The idea for Meridian Gate first came up in early 2004. The plans were approved soon after. In 2006, new plans were submitted when a different company took over the project. The land was then bought by Radisson Blu, a well-known hotel company. The building reached its highest point in mid-2008. This is called "topping out" in construction. It means the main structure is complete.
Design and Look of Meridian Gate
The area around Meridian Gate has both hard surfaces and green spaces. Some special lights from Barcelona were kept and moved. A statue of Jim Driscoll, a famous boxer, was placed on a raised stone platform. The building has some parking spaces, even though it is in the city centre. There are 40 spaces for people living in the apartments. The hotel has 35 spaces. This is because most hotel guests are expected to use public transport.
What the Hotel Tower Looks Like
The hotel tower has a special outer wall made of glass. This glass helps reflect sunlight. It also has aluminum fins that stick out. The goal was to make the building look similar to other buildings nearby. These include buildings in Callaghan Square and Kingsway.
Working with Nearby Buildings
A group called the Design Commission for Wales looked at the building plans. They wanted to make sure Meridian Gate would fit in with the height of the nearby Altolusso building. Altolusso is another one of Cardiff's tallest buildings. Because of this, a small change was made. The space between the new apartment tower and the Altolusso building was adjusted.
Hotel Features and Services
The Radisson Blu hotel inside Meridian Gate has 215 rooms. These rooms are spread across 21 floors. The hotel also has two bars where guests can relax. There is a restaurant for dining. For those who want to unwind, there is a health spa. The hotel also has six meeting rooms. A large ballroom can hold up to 350 people for events. There is also a space for pre-conference gatherings, which can fit 150 people.
