12 Jun. 13
Narrow Quay House receives Planning Permission
Narrow Quay House, which occupies an exceptional central Bristol location alongside the floating harbour has been given planning permission for a major refurbishment.
AWW, working for Standard Life, has redesigned this tired 1970’s office building into high quality, modern office accommodation. External and internal alterations including a completely new facade and 2 storey entrance along Prince Street will give the building a new life. A central atrium ensures that the office space will benefit from natural light.
AWW Director Mark Alker Stone commented, ‘the proposed changes to the building will transform this very tired office building and will ensure that it plays its part in attracting key occupiers to the city centre . This sustainable approach for redeveloping the site has been very well received from both Standard Life and Bristol City Council.’
06 Jun. 13
AWW Director Mark Alker Stone appointed new BCO Chairman
AWW director Mark Alker Stone has been appointed the new Chairman of the Chapter Committee for the British Council for Offices – BCO – in the South West and Wales Region.
The BCO is Britain’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues relating to the office sector, and its members comprise architects, lawyers, surveyors, financial institutions or public agencies. The BCO aims to develop the understanding of its members, allowing them to work together to create more effective office space.
The primary role of the Chapter Committee is to promote the BCO regionally and this is done through the organisation of various events and by hosting an annual awards programme. Mark Alker Stone commented, “I’m looking forward to the challenge of promoting and strengthening the already excellent profile the BCO has within the South West & Wales Chapter. The BCO leads the way as a forum for discussion and debate and will play a vital role in shaping and communicating our future work environments. We are at a very interesting transition with the perception of ‘the office’ …. it is a very exciting time”.
22 May. 13
CIAT Professional Interview Assessor
AWW’s Michelle Cochran has been invited to represent the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) CIAT as a Professional Interview Assessor.
CIAT represents professionals working and studying in the field of Architectural Technology and is internationally recognised, qualifying Chartered Architectural Technologists, MCIAT and professionally qualified Architectural Technicians, TCIAT. The Professional Practice Interview is the final stage of assessment for Chartered Membership allowing the Institute’s membership Assessors to assess levels of professional competence in Architectural Technology.
Michelle is a chartered member of CIAT, with a wide range of experience most recently working as the technologist on the major new South Bristol Community Hospital located in Hengrove, Bristol. Michelle is also BIM Coordinator at AWW, part of which involves establishing a common platform and protocols to allow model information to be shared across the design, contractor and client teams in accordance with all relevant British Standards and emerging industry led protocols.
21 May. 13
The Lodge Hotel Refurbishment Obtains Planning Permission
The Lodge Hotel, Putney, located to the north-eastern side of Upper Richmond Road occupies a pair of Victorian villas linked by a later two-story infill extension with substantial one, two and three storey extensions at the rear. AWW architects submitted a proposal for alterations including demolition of single and two-storey outbuildings at the rear and erection of three-storey rear extension to provide 25 new bedrooms.
AWW’s design mixes traditional brick material with minimal detailing and the rain screen cladding to provide an extension which is contemporary in design while complimenting the surrounding traditional architecture. The planning application committee unanimously granted permission and concluded that the extension would refine and improve the layout of the existing Lodge Hotel and improve its viability.
AWW Director Nicholas Mulholland, who managed the planning application, said, “Working with neighbours and planning officers to generate a design that ‘blended’ successfully has been an enjoyable challenge. Through the utilisation of Building Information Modelling and flythrough animations, AWW and the owner have settled a 40 year planning history characterised by objections from neighbours preventing viable expansion. It has been highly rewarding designing the 15 year site masterplan which now ensures our client Ben Hirschfeld, Proprietor of The Lodge Hotel, can unlock full site value and allow the hotel to expand and flourish.’’
Ben Hirschfeld said, “AWW has been a great partner to work with and along with my team and I, we are all very excited by the potential of the hotel. The project will add 25 state of the art bedrooms, a new restaurant, events space, a beautifully landscaped garden and an improved flow to the hotel. We have worked hard over the past eight years to bring the hotel back to life, this project rationalising the rear of the site is the first phase and will help cement The Lodge Hotel, Putney as south west London’s leading hotel. It will be an excellent example of high quality sustainable development for the area. We look forward to the next stage of progress.”
15 May. 13
Hat Trick for AWW
AWW is AJ100 SW Region Award Winner: Practice of the Year and Best Place to Work 2011, 2012 and 2013.
It has been a month of celebration at AWW having won a BCO Regional Commercial Workplace Award for Bridgwater House on Finzel’s Reach, and further success at this year’s AJ100 National Awards. Last year was the first time in the history of the awards that any practice had won the prestigious award twice in a row; now AWW has been successful for an unprecedented third year.
Published annually since 1995, the AJ100 ranks firms according to the number of UK Architects employed. In 2011, AWW entered the AJ100 Top 100 for the first time at number 99. In two years AWW has rapidly moved up the ranks, moving up 13 places in 2012 and this year we are featured at number 75.
AWW is a highly respected practice for its exciting contributions to Bristol’s regeneration including South Bristol Community Hospital, the new Imperial Tobacco Headquarters in Winterstoke Road, and Merchants’ Academy in Withywood. AWW recently received planning consent for the proposal to convert the former Magistrates’ Court in Nelson Street.
AWW has also contributed to Plymouth’s regeneration. Projects include Plympton Library, a major refurbishment of BBC South West Plymouth Seymour Road base and King Point Marina, a new 171-berth marina.
Director Richard Francis said, “The unique achievement of AJ100 SW Practice of The Year three years in a row is a testament to the skill and commitment of my colleagues at AWW. I am deeply proud of this national recognition of their talents.”
09 May. 13
How to Procure Buildings of the Best Value and Design
Over 100 people attended the RIBA Event How Do We Make Great Places? Procuring Buildings of the Best Value and Design on 8th May in Bristol.
Chairing the event was Professor Richard Parnaby, Vice Chairman of ARB, trustee of the Architecture Centre Bristol. Mayor George Ferguson gave the keynote speech on what makes great architecture in a city, discussing how we are making improvements to processes in Bristol and where opportunities lie. Walter Menteth provided recommendations from the RIBA report ‘Building Ladders of Opportunity’. The case study demonstrating a Bristol building of best value on design was South Bristol Community Hospital, delivered by David Perkin, AWW Director. Matthew Saunders RICS Associate Director discussed the recommendations of the RICS Construction Policy Document on reducing cost whilst maintaining quality.
The three summary recommendations of the RIBA Report and their implications for the regional market were discussed at some length:
1. Further examine the best ways to drive efficiencies and savings to ensure the public procurement system functions in the best interests of all those it serves.
2. Embed processes that ensure buildings are sustainable by focusing on design outcomes.
3. Create a competitive market by increasing access and allowing the public sector to take full advantage of UK design talent.
Geraint James, RIBA Bristol and Bath’s Vice Chair and AWW architect, commented that it was “a well-supported, thought provoking and engaging event”.
02 May. 13
Former Magistrates Court on Nelson Street Achieves Planning
Councillors on the central development control committee gave planning consent to the proposal to convert the former magistrates’ court in Nelson Street. Dubbed Bristol’s city centre biggest eyesore, the former magistrates court was one of the key sites used by graffiti artists to turn Nelson Street into a display of street art under the banner ‘See No Evil’, in Bristol over the past two years. Described by English Heritage as “brutalist”, with “little intrinsic value or significance”, AWW was appointed by Watkin Jones Group to provide a mixed use scheme which provides 348 new student bedrooms with a mix of grouped clusters and individual studios. Also proposed are commercial / retail units at ground floor and public realm improvement.
The scheme elevations use a mixture of solid masonry and reflective lightweight materials to enhance the shape of the structure, blending into the area’s surrounding townscape and providing a striking and dynamic addition to the city centre, kickstarting the regeneration of a street with the greatest examples of architectural post-war monstrosities in Bristol.
The Contractor has begun initial asbestos removal, with the scheme aiming to be completed by autumn 2014.
29 Apr. 13
Bridgewater House wins the BCO’s Commercial Workplace Award
Bridgewater House, part of Finzel’s Reach, a new mixed use development in the heart of Bristol City Centre, has won the BCO’s Commercial Workplace Award in the South West, Thames Valley and South Wales regional category.
Finzel’s Reach has over 300,000sqft of ‘Grade A’ office space which has been awarded BREEAM ‘Excellent’, 399 high spec apartments and 87,000sqft of cafes, retail and leisure. The development comprises both new build and conversion of Grade II listed retained structures.
“AWW is delighted our work on Bridgwater House has been recognised with a BCO award, a highly recognised industry accolade for defining excellence in office space design. As part of Finzel’s Reach, the transformation of the former Bristol Courage Brewery site opposite Castle Park, Bridgwater House is the first office commercial building on the site. The development creates a new dynamic city quarter with offices, apartments, leisure uses and retail space. It is a new high quality destination within the centre of this historic and vibrant city.”
- Mark Alker Stone, Director, AWW
25 Apr. 13
Practical Completion for New Imperial Tobacco HQ
Imperial Tobacco Phase 1 reached Practical Completion on Monday 22nd April. The largest owner-occupied property to be constructed in the city for more than six years, the new offices will house 550 head office staff and will be the international headquarters of Imperial Tobacco.
One of the most exciting construction projects completed in Bristol in recent years, AWW has put sustainability at the heart of the scheme with a high quality, energy efficient, contemporary building with an EPC rating of ‘B’. The project also achieves a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. The building’s orientation, use of passive solar protection alongside the introduction of PV cells and a biomass boiler, were key to achieving a low carbon design.
AWW has worked closely with Imperial’s team on all aspects of the design from concept to full interior design service and furniture selection, providing a fully fitted out ‘Cat B’ HQ befitting of a FTSE top 25 company. The building offers flexible accommodation with breakout spaces, a restaurant and gym, and an enclosed courtyard garden, with staff values a key driver for the project.
Public art enhances the approach to the building and focuses users and visitors on the main entrance. The artwork will also be visible from the main road providing a welcome cultural touch to this part of Bristol.
Imperial Tobacco’s retained existing office will shortly be refurbished to the same high standards to provide additional office space to complement the new HQ. As well as supplementing the office space, the building will also accommodate a 400 sqm commercial nursery. The commercial nursery will be available to both staff and local people and provides a valuable facility to the local community.
24 Apr. 13
‘Hidden Process’ RIBA Bristol Bath Architects Touring Exhibition
Architects in Bristol and Bath from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) will be launching their new touring exhibition for 2013 ‘Hidden Process’ in May and will begin its public tour around the South West at the Architecture Centre in Bristol.
The exhibition aims to communicate the hidden design process that Architects undertake when realising their Clients’ projects. Work to be displayed focuses on conceptual sketches, initial design drawings, models, key construction details, massing studies and site analysis for new build, refurbishment and speculative projects of a variety of budgets and scales.
AWW will be exhibiting at this event on Thursday 16th May at The Watershed, Bristol. The private viewing is already sold out, but there is an open invite to all to come along for a drink at the bar!
Further details http://hiddenprocess.eventbrite.co.uk
11 Apr. 13
AWW shortlisted for AJ100 Award for Best Place to Work: South West
AWW has been shortlisted for an award for the AJ100 Best Place To Work category. The shortlist is created from all AJ100 practices so making the shortlist is a fantastic achievement.
The winners will be announced on the 8th May.
11 Apr. 13
Leading the way in environmental modelling analysis
Good sustainable design should result in well designed, efficient and healthy environments for people to live and work rather than being examples of ‘good intentions’ that ultimately fail to deliver any tangible benefits to the end user.
AWW believe that sustainable buildings should also provide a number of measurable opportunities, demonstrating real levels of user satisfaction, coupled with positive and proven financial outcomes.
AWW test designs at the earliest stages of a project, with (on average) over 1,250 environmental modelling analysis runs each month to ensure decisions enable the best measurable sustainable outcome (such as reduced running costs and carbon emissions) without adversely impacting on project cost.
AWW is one of the most active users among architects of environmental modelling analysis to date.