Hanson scoop British Precast project award
AN office development on Hanson’s former brick works site at Stewartby, in Bedfordshire, has won the 2010 British Precast Concrete Federation’s ‘best project’ award.
The 63,500 square foot building, which has a BREEAM excellent rating and showcases Hanson’s product range, has two wings of office space linked by a central hub.
It was planned, designed and built by a Hanson project team led by project manager Duncan Edwards.
The building is naturally ventilated, demonstrating the effectiveness of masonry construction in reducing energy consumption, through thermal mass, and incorporates rainwater harvesting, increased insulation, night-time cooling and solar shading.
Precast concrete was used to create a striking central staircase and exposed ceilings, which both use the Hanson Cobiax flooring system. This saved over 200 tonnes of CO2 compared with a conventional concrete flooring system. The precast elements also help to make the building thermally efficient.
The BPCF ‘best project’ award recognizes excellence in the use of precast concrete and masonry in new structures. BPCF chief executive Martin Clarke said: ‘In a highly competitive category the three judges were unanimous in their decision. They felt the sustainable design, innovative internal and external engineering, and the strong aesthetic combined extremely well.
‘The building sets the bar higher for the new generation of offices. The inclusion of so many company products and systems did not influence the judges, but certainly impressed them.’
The 63,500 square foot building, which has a BREEAM excellent rating and showcases Hanson’s product range, has two wings of office space linked by a central hub.
It was planned, designed and built by a Hanson project team led by project manager Duncan Edwards.
The building is naturally ventilated, demonstrating the effectiveness of masonry construction in reducing energy consumption, through thermal mass, and incorporates rainwater harvesting, increased insulation, night-time cooling and solar shading.
Precast concrete was used to create a striking central staircase and exposed ceilings, which both use the Hanson Cobiax flooring system. This saved over 200 tonnes of CO2 compared with a conventional concrete flooring system. The precast elements also help to make the building thermally efficient.
The BPCF ‘best project’ award recognizes excellence in the use of precast concrete and masonry in new structures. BPCF chief executive Martin Clarke said: ‘In a highly competitive category the three judges were unanimous in their decision. They felt the sustainable design, innovative internal and external engineering, and the strong aesthetic combined extremely well.
‘The building sets the bar higher for the new generation of offices. The inclusion of so many company products and systems did not influence the judges, but certainly impressed them.’
