SKA Global Headquarters, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Lower Withington wins Best Large Commercial Project at 2019 LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Final

13.11.2019

Press Release

The project for the new SKA Global Headquarters at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, designed by Hassell and built by Sir Robert McAlpine, was awarded the title of Best Large Commercial Project at the Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.

A panel of industry experts judged a list of the highest quality projects from around England and Wales to reward the best in technical innovation, sustainability, safety and design.

Working with the local authority building control team from Civicance at Cheshire East Council the designers, contractor and their client have created a stunning new global headquarters of the SKA Organisation. This is an intergovernmental organisation set up to build and operate the Square Kilometre Array, the world’s largest radio telescope. The Jodrell Bank scheme had UK Government backing through the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the University of Manchester and Cheshire East Council.

Jodrell Bank LABC Building Excellence Awards

The panel of expert judges said,

"The building is a superb example of high quality commercial design resulting in extremely good performance characteristics exceeding building regulations, with a detail quality matching any in the commercial sector. While its primary function is highly technical the building manages to provide an attractive and human working environment."

LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said,

"Our Building Excellence awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice and they are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local council building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings."

The Grand Final of the LABC Building Excellence Awards took place on Friday 8 November 2019 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London and was hosted by multi award winning comedian Milton Jones. 840 building industry professionals including contractors, architects and engineers attended the celebration to find out which projects won across the 15 hotly contested categories.

These awards showcase buildings and design teams that tussle with complex technical or construction issues and building site constraints. They highlight innovative and creative solutions and building control professionalism that leads to safe, sustainable and high quality construction projects. Sponsors of the 2019 awards included Abbey Pynford, Actis, FMB, Home and Build, Jewson, Keystone, Keylite, LABC Acoustics, LABC Warranty, Planning Portal and Polypipe Building Services.