BOF furnishes three Cardiff University buildings

Cardiff University has partnered with independent furniture supplier BOF to furnish three of its major new buildings.

The Bridgend and Birmingham based company has been awarded the contract to provide furniture for the sbarc | spark, Translational Research Hub (TRH) and Abacws buildings via the YPO Furniture Framework following a rigorous competitive tendering process.

With over 30 years' experience as a furniture specialist within the education, public and private sectors, BOF creates inspiring environments by providing furniture from homegrown and global manufacturers.

James Dando, BOF Capital Projects, said: “These project awards represent a fantastic opportunity for Cardiff University and BOF collaboration to achieve client vision for these buildings and to deliver key client aspirations i.e. ‘to produce an environment that encourages creativity, innovation, and collaboration – fully commensurate with the ethos of Cardiff University and BOF.”

Professor Damian Walford Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Head of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, oversees the delivery of sbarc | spark, and Professor Rudolf Allemann, Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Student Recruitment, Head of the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, oversees the Translational Research Hub (TRH) and Abacws buildings.

"We are delighted to be working with BOF, a locally-based independent furniture supplier with an international reputation for shaping inspiring educational environments.

"The company's ambition fits perfectly with sbarc, a future magnet for thinkers and makers who can grow enterprises that bring benefits to Wales, with the cutting-edge spaces for industry-led partnerships within the TRH, and with Abacws - a world-leading computer science and maths building.

"BOF will provide a range of innovative furniture solutions across the three buildings for creative spaces, break-out zones, teaching rooms and sbarc's cafeteria based on BOF's top-scoring tender for cost, quality and sustainability.”

The Abacws building and sbarc | spark are due to open later this year, followed by the TRH next spring. The buildings form part of Cardiff University's biggest Campus upgrade for a generation.

Sbarc | spark and TRH are based on Cardiff Innovation Campus - the University's bespoke 'Home of Innovation' where thinkers, makers and backers will create new processes, products, start-ups and spinouts that help Wales to thrive after the Covid-19 pandemic.