Willmott Dixon has received further recognition for its sustainable work after the University of Leicester’s multi-million-pound Centre for Medicine scooped a prestigious international award at the S-Lab Awards 2017 last week (9 May).
The £42m building at the University of Leicester won against stiff competition in the Sustainable Science Building category at the awards ceremony, which recognised excellence in laboratory design, management and operation, showcasing the very best scientific facilities from 11 countries in five continents.
Contractor Willmott Dixon, along with Associated Architects, Bidwells, Gleeds, Ramboll and mechanical and electrical consultants Couch Perry Wilkes, worked side by side with the University throughout the challenging build process to develop what is an incredibly eco-friendly building, which is expected to reduce energy bills by six times compared to a conventional build.
James Elliment, operations manager at Willmott Dixon, said: “Winning the accolade of Sustainable Science Building at the S-Lab Awards is a fantastic achievement and a testimony to the building’s environmental credentials. We are delighted the building’s unique sustainable design has been recognised on an international stage, especially one that focusses on scientific facilities.
“The Centre for Medicine really is a pioneering project within the higher education sector and one that we are incredibly proud of.”
The Centre for Medicine at the University of Leicester comprises a number of environmental features including a green wall made up of 75,000 individual plants, CTB blinds that track the sun and automatically close to prevent solar gain, a ground to air heat exchange system and solar PV panels.
Chrispal Anand, carbon & energy manager at the University of Leicester, said: “I am really pleased that Centre for Medicine Building has won the S-Lab Award 2017. This is an international award recognising excellence in science buildings, equipment, facilities and management. It is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the University of Leicester’s commitment towards carrying out teaching and research in a low carbon environment.”
S-Lab director Peter James, said: “The 2017 Conference and Awards show that laboratory design, management and operation are changing in response to new knowledge and technologies, competitive, financial and other pressures, and user expectations. The result is better research and teaching, more cost-effective operation – which can create more resource for actual science – and reduced environmental impact.”
Willmott Dixon is a leading provider of world-class science and technology facilities and has delivered a number of iconic schemes alongside the Centre for Medicine including the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy for the University of Cambridge, a low vibration building with an acoustic performance 10,000 times stronger than a typical office and the National Space Technology Facility in Oxford, which includes research areas that will recreate conditions in outer space.
Winners were announced at the S-Lab Awards on 9 May 2017 at York Racecourse.
