- TOTAL COST
- £22M
- COMPLETED
- 2016
- DURATION
- 1Y5M
- RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
Project description
Bourne out of the need for a modern library and community arts facility, The Curve is Slough Borough Council’s flagship scheme that seeks to transform the town centre.
This unique building features a library, community learning rooms, registrar services, a café, a 280-seater performance space and a garden area.
At 90 metres long and 15 metres high, The Curve creates a welcoming pedestrian link between William Street, through to Mackenzie Square, and creates two new urban squares at each end of the building, enriching the pedestrian route with places to pause and enjoy the building in its space.
This unique building features a library, community learning rooms, registrar services, a café, a 280-seater performance space and a garden area.
At 90 metres long and 15 metres high, The Curve creates a welcoming pedestrian link between William Street, through to Mackenzie Square, and creates two new urban squares at each end of the building, enriching the pedestrian route with places to pause and enjoy the building in its space.
Responsible business
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Enhancing communities
During the build the team focussed on bridging skill gaps in the industry. Working with our supply chain partners, we created work placements for 16-19 year olds, a Welding and Fabrication Apprenticeship, and created a full time position for an undergraduate Quantity Surveyor.
The project also hosted 64 visitors on Open Doors weekend, showing them the site and presentations about the project. 
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Improving the environment
Use of raised access flooring and floor voids help provide a constant and energy efficient flow of air throughout the building. 
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Working together with our supply chain
The majority of the subcontractor workforce live locally, with 34 per cent employed living within 25 miles of the project.
Challenges
The project’s proximity to a major highway and a Grade II listed church proved to be one of its biggest challenges. Deliveries had to be carefully coordinated, with Just In Time conditions applied, and a carefully managed delivery gate. In addition, the unusual external design meant that the only access was underneath the building itself!
The open plan nature and layout of the building also means that there are voids between the ground and second floor in which noise can travel. To mitigate this, careful acoustic modelling was required and the floors were highly acoustically engineered throughout.
Testimonials
“I am proud to be able to be there at the opening of this fantastic facility. For years the centre of Slough has suffered from a lack of cultural activities and the old library has suffered as well form a lack of technology. Now we have a new site bring so much more than just a library or theatres, but a range of activities for all communities and all ages.”
Cllr Joginder Bal
Commissioner for Environment and Leisure, Slough Borough Council
“Working on The Curve has helped me develop my confidence within the industry. It has enabled me to improve my construction knowledge and my ability to apply that knowledge to a variety of different challenges”
Jack Winter
Undergraduate Quantity Surveyor, Morgan Sindall
