North Tyneside Council is celebrating after its renovation of a Grade II* listed building was given a national award.
The ERS Building, or Block A, at the council’s revitalised Killingworth site has been named as the national winner in the ‘best non-residential extension or alteration’ category in the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards for 2022.
Before its refurbishment in 2020/21, Block A was largely unoccupied and in a poor state of repair. The building was formerly the Engineering Research Station of British Gas, designed by Ryder and Yates in 1965 and completed in 1967. It has been described as ‘a tour de force of post-war architecture’ and features sculptural elements such as a tall archway entrance and conical roof features that define the Killingworth skyline.
Block A has since been extensively refurbished to provide a safe, modern, and energy-efficient workplace for hundreds of staff, as part of the council’s £12m project to modernise the Killingworth site.
And now, up against projects from across England and Wales, the redevelopment has received the top prize, with judges particularly impressed by the approach to improving fire safety, environmental sustainability and disabled access to the historic building.
Cllr John Harrison, cabinet member for Housing, said: “We are immensely proud that our redevelopment of Block A has received this prestigious award.
“So much work went into the project, and it wasn’t without its challenges. The building’s listed status meant we had to be a bit more creative in terms of the refurbishment and the addition of low carbon energy solutions, but the results have been amazing.
“The interior is thoroughly modern, designed with large open spaces to support flexible working, and the striking architectural features that have been a feature on the local skyline for decades are now looking better than ever.
“Congratulations to everyone who was involved in this award win. It’s an outstanding achievement and something we’re all immensely proud of.”
As well as the striking new look and feel of Block A, the building is integral to the Council’s carbon reduction plans and, thanks to a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, boasts a range of green features such as energy efficient heating and lighting systems and will soon have solar panels and recycled electric vehicle car battery systems installed to support energy storage and re-use across the site.
Cllr Sandra Graham, cabinet member for Environment, said: “A lot of work has gone in to improving the environmental sustainability at Block A, so to see it receiving this level of recognition is absolutely fantastic.
“We are committed to ensuring that our buildings are carbon efficient as part of our work towards being carbon net-zero by 2030, and the work done here is a massive step in the right direction.
“Even following this result, we are continuing to look at ways we can further our work on reducing our carbon footprint at the Killingworth site, and across the wider borough.”
Rachel Charlesworth, Project Architect from Ainsworth Spark Associates said: “It was an enjoyable challenge to work on the former ERS building's refurbishment!
“There were many and contradictory limitations on what could and could not be updated with conflicting needs coming from conservation and health and safety, but the outcome has been a building that has been significantly improved in terms of upgrading the facilities whilst retaining and celebrating all the important historical elements of the building.
“It is unusual that a listed building looks so unlike the public conception of an "historic" building and getting a full grip on the purpose of the listing was key to helping all involved in working on the project to understand the care needed when carrying out the refurbishment.
“The LABC award is a welcome acknowledgement of the teamwork it took to get Block A to its full potential and we look forward to further phases of the redevelopment of the wider site.”
Craig Powell, Director of A.E Robb & Associates, said: “A.E. Robb and Associates are proud to have been involved in the redevelopment of the former British Gas Engineering Research Station that now accommodates the various Council departments in a modern efficient working environment.
“As the Mechanical and Electrical Design Engineers our designs were instrumental in helping maximise efficiencies in systems that enable the building to function with modern cutting-edge technologies that will mean the building will continue to fulfil its purpose for many more years to come. Well done to all, it was a pleasure working with such a great team.”
You can find more information on the LABC and the awards at www.LABC.co.uk.
ENDS
