Chamber Announces Winner of Building of the Year Award

1 year ago

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce named Energy House 2.0 as Building of the Year 2022 at the Property & Construction Awards at Emirates Old Trafford.

The Chamber’s Building of the Year Award recognises a building’s contribution to Greater Manchester both in terms of construction and development. This can include the building’s significance to the City Region, its impact on the local economy, its effect on the local community, its importance in terms of urban regeneration and environmental enhancement, its design excellence, or its contribution to urban design and townscape.

Energy House 2.0, which was completed in February 2022, is the ‘world’s-first’ all-weather research centre. The unique facility provides the UK and the wider world with something nobody else can - an environment for testing complete buildings and all types of products in the exact climatic conditions that 95% of the world’s population live in. Domestic and international media have shown a huge interest in what Energy House 2.0 can do and it has received massive interest from across the globe including from the USA and Japan.

Companies of all sizes from large multi-internationals to local SMEs will use Energy House 2.0 to test products from whole buildings to individual components and technologies such as EV charging, renewables and Building Management Systems. Early users of Energy House 2.0 include Barrett Homes and Muse Developments.

This year the judges felt that one of the finalists, Castlefield Viaduct, also deserved a Highly Commended Award. Castlefield Viaduct is an educational and a sensory experience, gently curving through the sky above Castlefield. It is the first project of its type undertaken by the National Trust and demonstrates that collaboration between different organisations can happen in the built environment to create something truly wonderful. There are already calls to make it a permanent feature of the city.

The other buildings shortlisted for the Building of the Year Award 2022 were: The Science Engineering and Environment (SEE) Building, Base and Crusader.

Commenting on the shortlisted buildings, Duncan Firth, Chair of the Chamber’s Property & Construction Group and Managing Director of Walker Sime, said: “These structures are about repurposing the old to create something new. About building modern cathedrals of learning. About tackling climate change, responding to the climate crisis and creating social good.”

Diane Elebert-Morgan, Property & Construction Group Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, added: “Once again, the judges had a difficult time deciding on the shortlist. The five buildings shortlisted for the award are all very impressive and make a major contribution to Greater Manchester. This award celebrates the very best in design and construction and the winning building, Energy House 2.0, follows in a proud tradition of past award winners, which are now iconic Greater Manchester landmarks.

“Quite simply, there is nothing else like Energy House 2.0. It is a world-leading built environment technology on our very doorstep and we should be hugely proud of everyone who had a hand in ensuring that Greater Manchester leads the world in this type of practical scientific and industrial research.”

Previous winners of the Building of the Year Award include: RHS Garden Bridgewater (2021), The Oglesby Centre at Halle St Peters (2020), Manchester Alliance Business School (2019), The Christie Proton Beam Therapy Centre (2018), Oldham Town Hall (2017) Maggie’s Manchester (2016), The Whitworth (2015), Manchester Central Library (2014) and No. 1 Riverside, Rochdale (2013).

The Property & Constructions Awards also saw The Steve Burne Apprentice of the Year Award 2022 presented to Jennifer Wood. The award, which is named after a former Chairman of the Chamber’s Property & Construction Group, is given each year to an outstanding apprentice working in the Property and Construction sector in Greater Manchester.

Diane said: “In presenting this award we celebrate the hard work and enthusiasm of all the young people who are beginning their careers in this fantastic industry.”

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About Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK, providing business support to approximately 4,500 members who collectively employ 446,000 people, around one-third of Greater Manchester’s workforce. Recognised as a leader in its field, Greater Manchester Chamber’s reputation in government circles has grown locally and nationally. At the heart of the area of greatest economic intensity outside London and the South East, the Chamber is the primary body for business support, policy, representation and networking. The Chamber is an independent, not-for-profit private company and its aim is to support businesses and help create the best climate for the region to prosper. This is achieved by ensuring that those taking decisions on key issues such as transport, taxation and business regulation hear the voice of our members. The representation of our members’ views is central to the work of the policy team at the Chamber; these views are gathered in a range of ways including our local councils, policy committees, sector councils, the main Chamber council, focus groups, meetings with politicians and consultations. The Chamber also offers a range of networking forums across Greater Manchester, free as part of membership, plus a variety of other events and services designed to benefit specific sectors or individuals and help businesses to grow.

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