Although work at the summit on Snowdon's new visitor centre has stopped for the winter, the contractors, Carillion, have been busy back down at sea-level in Deeside constructing the steel framework of the structure.


The imposing steel skeleton of Hafod Eryri.

Today, in a large warehouse on the Corus site, the media were invited along to view how work was progressing. The now completed steel frame demonstrates the size and shape of the new visitor centre that will be known as Hafod Eryri.

Carillion Construction Regional Director, Meirion Evans, explained that the structure has been designed to be able to be broken down into pieces no heavier than the ten ton weight limit that the train can carry and will be transported up the mountain 'flat-pack' fashion.


Meirion Evans explaining about the different surface-textured granite that will
be used on the roof.

The building comprises of 130 tons of steel work and the 'dry-run' assembly has meant that any problems have been relatively easy to remedy compared to trying to solve them at its permanent home atop the summit of the highest mountain in Wales and England.

The next step is to install the windows and roller shutters and to fit the granite bull-nose to the frame of the structure. Each of the 2.5 x 3 metre glass panes weigh just over a ton. The roof will be covered with 100mm thick granite blocks and the exterior walls will also be faced in the same kind of stone.


Site Manager, Chris Holden, overlooking the roof of the building that will
eventually be covered with granite blocks.

The contractors plan to return to work at the summit on March 26th and complete the foundations ready for the steel-work to arrive. It will take about a week-and-a-half to dismantle the skeleton before transporting it to Llanberis where it is hoped to start re-erecting the structural skeleton around the end of April or beginning of May.


The obvious doorway below the banner will face the railway line and be the
main entrance as with the previous building.