fmb.org.uk
R & M Williams Limited, Wales, Overall Master Builder of the Year
R&M Williams has been crowned the Master Builder of the Year for their remarkable transformation of the derelict Palace Theatre, a project that was a ‘far more challenging endeavour than anyone had ever imagined.’ The main objective was to restore, reconfigure, and refurbish the Grade II listed building — originally built in 1888 and empty since 2006 — into a state-of-the-art event and collaborative workspace for Swansea Council’s end-tenant, Tramshed Tech. The project successfully breathed new life into a building that was in dangerous disrepair, with no functioning roof and a flooded basement.
A key highlight was the collaborative design and development process, which was crucial due to the building’s advanced state of disrepair. As many areas were inaccessible pre-construction, the design was finalised during the build itself, with R&M Williams working alongside the design team and Cadw (the Welsh historic environment service) to address hundreds of requests for information. Their careful and sympathetic approach involved salvaging and reusing many original features, such as Ebbw Vale bricks and cast-iron balustrades, and meticulously recreating unsalvageable elements like the conical roof and the proscenium arch.
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2025 Master Builder Awards
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