Woods Hardwick win Commended in the Technical Excellence category at the Architectural Technology Magazine Awards

BEDFORD, ENGLAND, January 27, 2011

The Partis Building comprises new office accommodation to further expand an existing development and has been designed to integrate with the surrounding buildings, while featuring improved environmental performance.

Arun Thaneja, MICIAT, Chartered Architectural Technologist at Woods Hardwick said, "I'm proud of the technical aspects of the design - the building is a focal point, especially the glass rotunda and main entrance 'feature".

Woods Hardwick worked closely alongside Winvie Construction Ltd to consider the building's end-user, the facilities to be provided, the benefits in terms of sustainability and thermal performance, all of which provided an improvement of the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment) rating. The project was originally tendered on the basis of the building achieving a BREEAM score of 'Very Good' with 10% renewables. However, after a methodical review of the design in terms of materials and sustainable procedures and processes being incorporated, a rating of 'Excellent' was achieved. The office building is based on a narrow floor plan with substantial glazing to either side of the office areas to allow significant natural daylight to the office space. Solar gain in summer is limited by external louvers, providing solar shading while the lower sun in winter allows solar gain to enter.

"The project will stand the test of time", said Arun, "it is solid and created from brickwork and glazing. It was efficient and economical to build, and exceeded the client's expectations". The building is steel framed, comprising two and three storey elements generally on a 7200mm by 6275mm and 6433mm grid. It's built in two wings about a central glazed feature entrance incorporating lift and stair circulation with double height entrance void, with a meeting room on the second floor and plant room above.

The building wings are constructed in a butterfly section configuration with the roofs falling to a central gutter line, and all rainwater outlets being taken down the centre of the building plan. External walls comprise areas of polyester power coated aluminium curtain walling with double glazed panels with brise soleil by Maple to upper glazed panels. The other main elevational material is buff facing brickwork. Feature cladding panels, gantries and brise soleil are also utilised on the elevations

For more information on this project, or to talk to us about a project you may have, please contact us. With experts in a number of specialisms, including commercial architecture, residential architecture, civil engineering, town planning and master planning, we'll certainly be able to assist you.

Woods Hardwick is one of the UK's leading multi-disciplinary architectural practices, delivering exceptional, sustainable designs within the residential and commercial arena. To find out more about our full range of services, go to our website http://www.woodshardwick.com or call us at (01234) 268862.