Depot design teams' award (From York Press)

Depot design teams' award

10:12am Monday 19th March 2007 in Business news

A CIVIL and structural engineering firm has received an industry accolade for its role in a groundbreaking green design for a City of York Council building.

The council's pioneering commercial services office, dubbed EcoDepot, off Hazel Court in James Street, York, is now the largest two-storey eco office block in Europe, regarded as a Euro showcase because of its innovative features.

HBPW Consulting Ltd, from Retford, in Nottinghamshire, was part of the project's construction team that was highly commended at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Yorkshire and Humberside annual awards in Harrogate's Majestic Hotel.

The commendation for excellence in concept, design and execution of civil engineering works was presented by the ICE's president, Professor Quentin Leiper.

Paul Withers, who heads up HBPW Consulting, said: "The eco building was an immense challenge, but it was one we rose to and I am sure it will remain a showcase and a model of best practice for organisations across the UK."

The ecoDepot was built following the sale of the Foss Islands Road depot and the relocation of the council's household recycling service to Hazel Court.

As part of the £8 million scheme, HPBW Consulting used a timber frame to support straw bale walls encased in lime render, purposely avoiding standard steel and brickwork practises - a technique used by Tudor builders in the 16th century. But the true HBPW innovation was to eliminate "piling"- this is when concrete supports are driven into the ground to support the structure - in favour of raft foundations, effectively leaving the eco structure "floating".

Mr Withers said: "It was an old landfill site which was filled with ashes and, by avoiding the use of piles, we also avoided the possibility of contaminating the ground lower down by driving contaminated waste downwards."