Zac Hayes

My final project, The South Yorkshire Climate Assembly, is a new piece of civic infrastructure in Barnsley city centre, designed to spark conversation and action around climate resilience and community engagement. At its heart is a central winter garden, fostering a vital connection with nature. Surrounding this are permeable, functional spaces such as a Bike MOT workshop, a reuse centre, and gardening workshops - each promoting a core value of the Assembly and supporting its climate-focused mission. The project retains 70% of the existing on-site building structure and integrates sustainable strategies such as rainwater harvesting and mechanical solar shading to enhance its environmental performance. Crowning the design is a viewpoint tower that not only offers panoramic views of Barnsley but also educates visitors on climate issues across its levels, aspiring to become a landmark for the town.