Funded by Neath Port Talbot Council, the multi-million pound development has been built by Kier Construction Cardiff, and is designed to have a beneficial impact on the town centre, increasing sustainability and foot-fall and providing a major boost for health and wellbeing. It is hoped the improved public space can attract more than 200,000 visitors to the town each year. 

A shimmering, contemporary focal point  

Perhaps taking cues from more organic architectural forms, such as the Lord’s Media Centre or those favoured by Zaha Hadid, the elegant, glazed, cropped lozenge shaped section of the new building really packs an architectural punch. Placed alongside the metallic gold elevation of the central café lounge and the clean lines of the library building, the development delivers a shimmering, contemporary focal point for the town centre.  

The building features a six-lane swimming pool and learner pool, group exercise studios, a 100-station gym, health suite, retail floorspace, childcare facilities, a café, community research and meeting spaces and a comprehensively equipped 30,000 book library. 

Council leader Steve Hunt, "The leisure centre, library, gym and retail space will bring new activities and investment into Neath’s town centre. It will strengthen the town’s commercial core and will help more people lead a healthy lifestyle while improving wellbeing facilities for the town and surrounding areas. This development will attract many thousands of additional people into the heart of the town centre, including many families, every week and we look forward to welcoming them." 

Giving the building vitality, zest and keeping it interesting  

Based in London, Cardiff and Munich, project architect, Holder Mathias, operates throughout the United Kingdom and internationally delivering services in architecture, urban design and master planning. The practice has been creating projects of enduring value for over fifty years. Architect Adam Pearce, “Rockpanel was chosen partly for its A2 fire rating, which was an important aspect of the design. The colour and finish of the cladding was the appropriate choice for the façade, we feel it gives the building vitality, zest and ultimately keeps it interesting.”  

Rockpanel derives its unique properties from the core of stone wool used in its manufacture. The self-replenishing natural basalt is a sustainable and readily available volcanic rock. Bonded with an organic binder it delivers a highly resilient, weather, temperature and UV resistant facade, which remains virtually maintenance-free throughout its long life.  

Versatility with unmatched performance and choice 

Roofing and cladding specialists, M.H. Massey, were responsible for the installation of the facades at Neath. Project Draughtsman James Clarke, “Technical guidance made the design and detailing aspect of the project easy to understand. We utilised the mechanical hook on system, paired with Nvelope NV3 horizontal rail and hook receivers, which were factory fitted to the rear side of the panels.  

“There were several vertical modules and a staggered layout to provide that 'random' joint look, which was easily achieved with the versatility of the panel and its ability to be pre-cut into any shape and size. Hidden by the Rockpanel, there were a number of different backing walls, from carrier panels, to built-up SFS walls, delivering acoustic control for the pool or high performance insulation for the gym areas.” 

Rockpanel’s Christine Rees Davies, “Non-combustible, mechanically secret fixed Rockpanel really shows its versatility at the Neath project. Three RAL matched colours; 5021 turquoise blue, 7016 anthracite grey and 9006 silver grey, are installed alongside Gold from the Rockpanel Metals collection. The lightweight panels are quick and easy to transport and move through the site, which saves time and money while helping keep disruption to a minimum for busy city-centre locations.” 

The breadth of design options Rockpanel offers, allows specifiers the freedom to let their imaginations run wild, safe in the knowledge the completed facade will realise their creative ambitions and stay looking as great as the day it is installed, while satisfying the highest fire safety regulations. 

Project Information:
Project location: Neath, Wales, United Kingdom
Building type: Leisure Center
Project type: New build
Architect: Holder Mathias
Products: Rockpanel Colours (5021 Turquoise Blue, 7016 Anthracite Grey, 9006 Silver Grey) Rockpanel Metals (Gold)