Concrete Awards Show’s Drive for Sustainability
The Concrete Society’s annual awards, which took place in London this month, have shown that sustainability is a growing trend within the construction industry. As experts in concrete, it’s always fascinating to see how other companies around the country are utilising it in their construction projects.
The outright winner was 1 New Park Square, Edinburgh, an office building which promotes sustainable living. The net-zero complex includes a café/bakery, space for cycle storage, several different sports courts, as well as a conference space for 150 people and plenty of breakout areas.
Concrete has formed an integral part of the design & construction, particularly in the walls and soffits. Its excellent heat-retaining qualities mean that concrete minimises the cost of any heating or electricity bills (and the use of solar power throughout the structure means this is reduced even further). The concrete itself has been left exposed throughout the building, to compliment the various forms of decorative art and lighting used inside.
One of the shortlisted entries (which was highly commended by the judges) wasn’t even used in a building but in a flood protection barrier. The Newlyn Coastal Research and Development project in Penzance employed concrete blocks as part of a stone breakwater.
As well as guarding against flooding, and protecting the coastline, the blocks have also supported the local ecosystem. This is because they have already attracted substantial algae growth, helping the new concrete blocks to blend in with the rest of the barrier (which is dominated by natural stone and rocks).
The Full Roll of Honour
Outright Winner – 1 New Park Square, Edinburgh
Highly Commended
- Newlyn Coastal Research and Development Project, Penzance
- Osier’s Road, Wandsworth, London – an apartment block which uses a striking precast concrete façade
- The Salvation Army New THQ, Denmark Hill, London – a new flagship office for the charity which uses exposed concrete ribbed slabs across all five storeys
- DAMAC Tower, Nine Elms, London (pictured above) – this 50-storey, 170metre high skyscraper in Vauxhall consists of 360 apartments, using high-strength concrete. It is sometimes known as the ‘Jenga’ tower because of its uneven structure.
Madmix – A Leading Concrete Company in Cambridgeshire
Just like the award-winners, Madmix also sets high standards in the concrete industry. All our concrete is fully accredited, meeting the BS EN 206 and BS 8500-2 standards. This also certifies that our Quality Management System has been awarded ISO 9001 accreditation.
We can supply a wide variety of different admixtures – including commercial and domestic concrete mixes – from our base on the outskirts of Cambridge. If you would like to know more about any of our products or services, follow this link and fill in the online form; you can also call us on 01954 212212.
Image: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/MATT BROWN
Back to blog
