Two of Robert Woodhead Ltd’s Lincolnshire construction projects have been recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at their annual awards. The East Midlands awards ceremony took place on Friday 2nd May at the Leicester Marriott Hotel.
Construction firm, Robert Woodhead, and its architect partner, Arrol & Snell were Highly Commended in the Design through Innovation category for their work on Lincolnshire County Council’s Heritage Skills Centre.
The Heritage Skills Centre, carried out on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council. Also a finalist in the Community Benefit, Design through Innovation and Tourism & Leisure categories, this scheme was delivered in partnership with Arrol & Snell architects. The already multi-award winning Heritage Skills Centre is set in the historic grounds of Lincoln Castle and is the first new build structure within the confines of the castle for more than 100 years.
The Centre is a multi functional and dynamic building which will be a focus of heritage crafts and skills development in Lincolnshire. Robert Woodhead Limited constructed the building to achieve BREEAM Very Good standards, making it highly sustainable. The team took a fabric-first approach, which used sustainable timber, air source heat pumps, green roof, MVHR, Hempcrete panelling for excellent thermal efficiency results, under floor heating and rain water harvesting.
This project posed many challenges to the delivery team, in particular the logistical constraints of working within an ancient monument, and on the site of a busy tourist attraction in the heart of Lincoln Castle. Before construction work could begin, the site required the removal of more than 2,000 tonnes of material under an archaeological watching brief. While work was underway, the on-site team had to work around the attractions active events schedule including regular filming for Downton Abbey and The Time Team, the Christmas Market, Graduation Ceremonies for around 12,000 students and the Olympic Torch Relay within the castle grounds. Works were also carried out just metres away from Lincoln Crown Court, which remained open throughout the build.
Mary Powell, Tourism Development Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We are incredibly pleased with the Heritage Skills Centre, which has already proved to be a fantastic resource.
“It was a complex build with a number of challenges along the way, but the partnership working between ourselves, Robert Woodhead and the architects, ensured the centre not only looks fantastic, sits well in its surroundings and fulfils its purpose, but that the process was managed seamlessly.”
They were also nominated for the following projects in their respective categories:
The Cross Street Eco Town development, carried out on behalf of Longhurst and Havelok Homes and West Lindsey District Council. A Finalist in the Regeneration and Residential categories, the Cross Street Eco Town development was delivered in partnership with Allan Joyce Architects.
This Eco development included the construction of four brand new homes achieving the Code for Sustainable Homes, Level 5, the highest ECO rating ever taken on by the council. Additionally Robert Woodhead took on the redevelopment of a Victorian building, to a high standard of sustainability, converting it into three new homes, that went above and beyond regulations.
The new build structure was built using a fabric-first approach, including the use of off-site manufactured structurally insulated panels (SIPs), which not only enabled the main skeleton of the building to be up and completed within three weeks, it also ensured a high level of thermal efficiency. With 50 photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, energy efficient bulbs and triple glazed Eco Clad doors and windows, the building was designed to cut carbon emissions and running costs for new tenants.
Mike Hardy, Managing Director of Longhurst and Havelok Homes, said: “Achieving Code for Sustainable Homes level 5 is a first for Longhurst and Havelok Homes and I would like to thank all our partners for their involvement in the construction of the scheme.” Both the Cross Street Eco Town Development and the Heritage Skills Centre have already won multiple awards for their innovation and sustainability.
David Woodhead, Managing Director of Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “Projects like these cannot be delivered without partnership working with the architects, clients and the local community.
“I’m delighted to say we have been Highly Commended for our work on the Heritage Skills Centre. Recognition like this just goes to highlight the incredible hard work and dedication that our teams both on-site, and back in the office, put in to making building a better experience for all.”