York’s Academic Buildings win National Gold Award for being built considerately
Hemel Hempstead, 12 May 2011 - They’ve only just been complete and handed over by Yorkshire contractor BAM, but the four new academic buildings for the University of York have won a gold award from the UK’s Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) for the considerate way they were built.
BAM’s Matthew Garnett received the Gold Award, one of only three in the whole of Yorkshire for 2010, from over 12,000 UK site visits made by the inspectors during the year. It places the project in the UK’s best one per cent.
‘I’m really pleased with the way we delivered the Academic Buildings’, said Matthew, who is now moving on to manage construction of the new Carleton Community School in Pontefract, Wakefield. ‘We had some good ideas about promoting welfare and health and safety and we worked around the University’s concerns to ensure we caused as little disruption to their lives as possible. For BAM, building considerately is a way of life, and it’s integral to our approach. We want to hand over first class buildings to our clients but we want to be good community partners for them for the two or so years that we work together.’
Matthew – who comes from Leeds – added: ‘Our work in York created around 4,000 jobs and tens of millions of pounds in local contracts for sub-contractors. We were able to encourage young apprentices too, with work experience and placements thanks to the University’s excellent Construction Skills Academy programme. It’s been a very rewarding experience and we’re proud of our time in York.’
The University’s development comprised the Ron Cooke Hub, new buildings for the Departments of Computer Science and Theatre, Film and Television along with the York Law and Management Schools, which form part of the University’s major campus expansion at Heslington East.
Elizabeth Heaps, the University’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Estates and Strategic Projects said: ‘We congratulate BAM and Matthew Garnett, their Construction Manager, on their gold award for Considerate Constructor. The University insists on high standards for safety, welfare, site organisation, sustainability and community interaction from the construction companies we work with. It has been very pleasing to work with BAM, who are committed as we are to these high standards, and it is especially gratifying that their efforts have been acknowledged by a prestigious national award.’
Furtehr information: Mark Slattery, Press and Media Manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd, 01442 238415.