Updates from Site - July 2025
It’s always a rewarding and valuable experience for us as architects to attend site during the build phase of a project. It provides us with the opportunity to check in with contractors, collaborate with the on-site team, address any emerging issues promptly, and ensure that the project is progressing as planned.
Currently, we have several schemes underway, each at a different stage of development, so we thought we'd start sharing monthly updates from each of these sites. Keep reading for July's highlights from the NMITE Centre for Innovation and Future Skills, Belmont Wanderers Southside Community Building, and the Vipassana Meditation Centre.
NMITE Centre for Innovation and Future Skills
Elly and Oliver recently headed to site to check in on progress at NMITE's newest campus facility in Hereford. Groundworks are now underway, and the Firth Construction team were on site to oversee the preparation for the Isoquick insulated foundation system, which will sit beneath the reinforced raft slab.
The Isoquick foundation system that helps eliminate thermal bridging and reduces heat loss at the ground-floor level - ideal for low-energy buildings like this. The groundwork team was busy setting out the slab recess that will form the duct route for the Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system. This duct will run below the slab and deliver fresh air to internal spaces via discreet floor-level grilles, helping maintain healthy indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
The extension will provide spaces for local businesses and entrepreneurs to develop skills, innovate and collaborate, an exciting addition to NMITE’s city centre campus.
Belmont Wanderers – Southside
Matt recently visited the Belmont Wanderers' Southside site, just outside Hereford, where work has begun on the new 3G all-weather pitch.
This type of pitch is a third-generation synthetic sports surface, made from artificial grass with a combination of sand and rubber crumb infill. It closely replicates natural turf but with much greater durability, making it ideal for frequent use in all weather conditions.
Unlike earlier artificial turf, 3G pitches provide better grip, shock absorption, and ball performance, which is why they're now widely used for grassroots football across the UK. Crucially, they don't become muddy or waterlogged, meaning clubs can train and play year-round without interruption.
Progress on site has been swift, with groundwork and base preparation already well underway. The development will also include a new changing facility and a small clubhouse, supporting Belmont Wanderers' vision to expand their community offer and provide a high-quality facility for local players of all ages.
Vipassana Meditation Centre
The team has also been making regular visits to a rural site where a new accommodation block is being added to the Vipassana Meditation Centre. The project recently hit a major milestone with its first air test being completed successfully. The site team are now progressing with the internal plastering and the external cladding is now being installed.
The untreated cedar cladding has been selected to weather naturally over time, eventually developing a silver patina that will sit alongside the existing buildings on site.
As with all our projects, the materials and detailing have been considered in relation to long-term performance, environmental impact, and the user experience. In the next few weeks, Firth Construction will complete the second fix of the mechanical and electrical fittings, including the MVHR.
Three Sites, Three Community Stories
Each of these projects represents a different kind of challenge and opportunity:
A sensitive extension to a historic educational building in the city centre conservation area
A new accommodation block and facilities at a peaceful rural retreat
And a vibrant new sports facility for a local football club
Together, they showcase the diversity of our work and the power of design to support learning, wellbeing and community connection in very different ways.
We'll be sharing more updates each month as these builds progress, follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest site news and behind-the-scenes insight.