Friday, April 23, 2010
West Coast Energy has qualified for
the All-Wales Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Excellence
Awards, after scooping two accolades for its headquarters, 'Mynydd
Awel'. The building was awarded the 'Best
Sustainable Development for Flintshire' and the 'Best Sustainable
Development for North Wales'.
Mynydd Awel also won 'Best Large
Scale Development for Flintshire', which was presented to its
construction company. West Coast Energy's 'Best Sustainable
Development for North Wales' category win qualifies it to be
considered in the national competition. Judging takes place later
this month.
Considered by a panel of regional
building control managers and key LABC representatives, the LABC
Building Excellence Awards recognise the best quality design,
construction and project management. If West Coast Energy is
successful at the all Wales stage, it will go through to the
UK-wide final.
Paula Jewson, Director and Company
Secretary, West Coast Energy, comments: "To win two LABC
sustainability awards for our headquarters is extremely gratifying.
Since the project was conceived, designed and developed to our own
specifications, it is an even greater honour. Ever since it was
completed, we have been very proud of Mynydd Awel.
"It is great to see that others
also feel it is a great example of a sustainable and modern
building project. We are all really excited about the next round of
judging and the chance to compete against the best the UK has to
offer in the final - if we can get there!"
West Coast Energy's
850m2 timber clad purpose-built headquarters is seeking
accreditation under the BRE Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEAM) as 'excellent', and includes a glue laminated timber
(glulam) frame. Timber used in the build is Forestry Stewardship
Council (or equivalent) certified and sourced from local suppliers.
Its 'green' roof is covered in insulating sedum plants to benefit
the environment.
The build made maximal use of
available natural resources, including sun pipes for natural
lighting, natural ventilation and a sustainable drainage system.
Eighty per cent of the fabric of the building is made from A-rated
environmental performance materials.
Gerry and Paula Jewson, owners of
family-run West Coast Energy were presented with the awards by Ian
Vaughan-Evans, Head of Building Control at Flintshire County
Council. Usually these awards go to the project builders and
contractors, but in this case building Flintshire County Council
presented the awards directly to West Coast Energy. This was to
recognise the company's close involvement and leadership in all
aspects of the development.
