Stephen Perse Senior School, Cambridge wins at 2018 LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Finals

The new Sports & Learning building at Stephen Perse Senior School, Cambridge, constructed by Kier Construction (Eastern), designed by Chadwick Dryer Clarke and nominated by the local authority building control team from 3C Shared Services was awarded the title of Best Educational Building at the LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Finals – one of the most recognised events on the building industry’s calendar.



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

The project comprised a new sports and learning building for the Stephen Perse Foundation's senior school, incorporating a 4-court sports hall and support areas, classroom and informal learning spaces, multifunctional display and gathering spaces and a rooftop sports pitch. It knits into adjacent existing buildings on the school site, and provides a new entrance to the school at the junction between new and old.



Mark Clarke of architect Chadwick Dryer Clarke says “By meeting with 3C Building Control at an early point in the design process, the architectural, structural and MEP design proposals were refined and developed in parallel.

"The ability to be able to design freely whilst mindful of the framework of building regulation compliance has enormously aided the expression and success of this project. A creative solution was required to resolve the client's brief and the constraints of the site, and the building control surveyor’s input into the project has enabled this.

"The new building has been delivered on time and on budget, with very positive responses from pupils, parents and staff.”



LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said: “Our Building Excellence Awards are an opportunity for the industry to celebrate good practice. Our winners demonstrate how positive working relationships with local council building control teams achieve high quality, sustainable buildings.

Our awards are unique because they recognise how this cooperation improves building standards and professionalism across the industry.”



The panel of expert judges said “In a highly competitive category with an incredibly high standard of entries, the Perse School sports hall stood out.

"It stepped out of the ‘standard’ approach to school building design, with use of sustainable materials and striking architecture within the Cambridge conservation area. Sinking the sports hall into the ground required a high degree of technical ingenuity and fire engineering and close working relationship with local building control.

"The end result is a real credit to the industry.”

           

The Grand Finals of the LABC Building Excellence Awards took place on Friday 9 November 2018 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London and was hosted by Dead Ringers star, comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw.

860 building industry professionals including contractors, architects and engineers attended the celebration to find out which projects won across the 15 hotly contested categories.

About the LABC Building Excellence Awards

The LABC Building Excellence Awards showcase buildings and design teams that have had to 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.  

Supporters of the 2018 awards included Abbey Pynford, Actis, FMB, Home and Build, Jewson, LABC Acoustics, LABC Warranty, Planning Portal, Polypipe Terrain and Swiftclean.