WINNER

PCE - HMP Featherstone 2    

The scale of this project was overwhelming – with eleven buildings and six precasters, the judges were truly impressed by the high levels of coordination and performance. They commented that PCE had shown excellent ambition and had clearly demonstrated the ability of the precast sector to rise to the challenge of creating such a major project and remarked on the potential repeatability of the solution across other buildings and sectors.

Featherstone 2 is the largest precast concrete project currently under way in the UK, involving manufacture and construction of some 13,000 plus precast concrete units for 11 major buildings, with a supply chain comprising six British Precast manufacturers.

The project showcases the innovative project delivery strategy, management excellence and industry leading precast construction processes of PCE. This is the first time the precast manufacturing industry has been brought together on this scale to deliver a single project. It is PCE’s vision to offer its clients the best the precast industry can offer by ensuring it works together.

PCE manages the complete precast supply chain whose members have been selected to “play to their strengths”, with quality, programme and production issues overseen by experienced staff from the design & build contractor “implanted” with each manufacturer. Key among these include “designing in” efficiencies at manufacture and substituting innovative precast designs to create single components with built-in features that often replace several components with a single unit and incorporate fixtures and M&E provision to minimise or eliminate the requirements for follow-on trades.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Thorp Precast - Dover Esplande

The judges really liked this attractive and innovative project on Dover seafront which will certainly help to regenerate the town. The crisp white precast ramps and stair units showed excellent attention to detail and were pushing the use of self-compacting concrete to new architectural standards.

Lifting Wave, Resting Wave, Lighting Wave was the winning scheme in an international design competition for the regeneration of Dover Esplanade, designed by Tonkin Lui, and with units made by Thorp Precast. The competition brief was prepared by the Landscape Institute on behalf of a partnership comprising Kent County Council, Dover Harbour Board, Dover District Council, SEEDA and English Heritage. The competition brief stated the main aims of the project; ‘to create a modern, attractive new seafront that connects the Eastern and Western Docks. The esplanade should become a major attraction in itself, a place to see and be seen, a place where arts and culture can be encouraged to thrive, and a key setting for a variety of creative activities, temporary and permanent’.

As with all of Tonkin Lui’s projects, when designing the Esplanade, they searched for a solution that was particular to the place, time, and people. Through a unique design methodology called asking, looking, playing, making they investigated the character and potential of the place and made propositions that were particular to that place and the people that will use it.

COMMENDED

Brett Landscaping - X-Flow

Conventional grass grid type concrete paving elements historically available within the UK is most typically rectangular in shape with voids to allow the water to drain through – and the grass to grow through. This type of paver can been seen in use on numerous commercial and domestic projects with occasional trafficking.

This new type of product offers a more durable solution in comparison to alternative products – especially the plastic meshes which are becoming more commonplace.

Testing by the TRL has confirmed that the X-Flow product does not break – even under relatively high traffic frequency – although it does have the flexibility to follow the contours of the site making for a more attractive aesthetic as well as reduced trip hazards.

COMMENDED

Marshalls - Bioverse System

Marshalls is committed to reducing the amount of carbon produced as a result of its  operations and has put in place a carbon reduction programme incorporating a range of initiatives. In line with the Government’s targets, Marshalls has committed to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050, using 1990 as a baseline.

As part of its energy programme, Marshalls introduced a range of permeable paving – including the Bioverse System – in order to enable consumers to have a positive impact on the environment when making landscaping decisions.
In 2011, Marshalls launched its Bioverse System for domestic driveways – a unique sustainable driveway system which becomes carbon neutral, then continues to have a positive impact on the environment. Bioverse is a practical, beautiful driveway option. It offers consumers a way to have a driveway that works for parking, reduces flood risk, complies with SUDs legislation and is carbon neutral over its life.