BAM helps Cardiff University to achieve ‘greenest education building’ award in Wales

The facility will house the University’s flagship European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute and Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institutes. There will also be laboratories for the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics. The building will also house the University Graduate College, a 150-person theatre and a public exhibition space. The completed Building will make full use of natural energy for its heating and light.

BAM Construction has worked with architects Nightingale Associates to achieve the highest standards of sustainability both in design and construction methods.

BAM’s Project Manager Justin Price said: ‘At BAM, we’ve prioritised sustainable building, and the range of activities this includes from being energy efficient to recycling waste and involving the building’s ultimate users. It’s something we are proactive about achieving and responsible construction is central to how we work as a business. We’ve enjoyed a strong relationship with our client and with Nightingales and it’s a great team effort to have won the BRE’s sustainability award.’

BAM – which managed the BREEAM submission on behalf of the project – holds the highest level of accreditation under the Green Dragon method, the Welsh environmental system, and was placed very highly in the UK’s Greenest Companies list.

The award was presented by John Griffiths AM, Welsh Government Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, to the University’s Estates Director Stephen Duddridge at the Constructing Excellence Awards Dinner at Cardiff’s SWALEC Stadium.

Mr Duddridge added: ‘When we first started planning the Hadyn Ellis Building, we set ourselves the target of BREEAM excellence for sustainability. I’m delighted that with our partners BAM and Nightingale Associates, we have not only achieved this standard but been recognised with this Welsh award. The Hadyn Ellis will be a building Wales can be proud of not only for its high-quality research but for its environmental standards.’

The Hadyn Ellis Building is named after the University’s late Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Watch progress on the build via webcam: http://hadynbuild.cf.ac.uk/view/index.shtml

Further information: Mark Slattery, press and media manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd, 01442 238415.