Henry Brothers scoops second award for carbon-neutral Staffordshire University building

Contractor Henry Brothers is celebrating after winning the Sustainability Award at the West Midlands Property Awards 2022.

The award was presented for the delivery of Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School at Staffordshire University – the first carbon-neutral development completed by Henry Brothers and the first carbon-neutral building on the university campus.

It is the second accolade won by the project in recent weeks. Last month the scheme was announced as the winner of the GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Project of the Year Over £2.5million category at this year’s Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Excellence Awards.

Managing Director of Henry Brothers Construction, Ian Taylor, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School delivered by Henry Brothers for Staffordshire University has been recognised once again.

“It’s an exceptional building which is a significant development not only for the University and for Henry Brothers, but for the future also. To win the Sustainability Award at The West Midlands Property Awards 2022 is a superb achievement for the entire team involved in the project. I’d like to congratulate them for their vision, expertise and skill in delivering this wonderful day nursery that will benefit staff, students, their families and the local community.”

In addition to Henry Brothers, the project team consisted of Mace as project and cost managers, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios as lead designer and architect, Max Fordham as building services engineers, Civic Engineers as structural engineers and transport consultants, and Re-form Landscape as landscape designers.

The Henry Brothers’ design team included CPMG Architects, structural and civil engineer Hexa and Couch, Perry, Wilkes for M&E services.

Sally McGill, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Lead for Sustainability at Staffordshire University said: “The Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School is our first carbon-neutral building on campus, and we're delighted to see the facility recognised for its outstanding green credentials. This exciting new facility is creating opportunities for young children from local communities to discover the outdoors in an enriching and sustainable learning environment.

“Sustainability is at the heart of our University campus transformation plans and builds upon our wider campus initiatives for a more sustainable future. This particular building was designed from the outset with sustainability in mind and has become a blueprint for future carbon-neutral builds on our campuses.”

The £4.4m Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School is set adjacent to a woodland but close to the city centre on the University’s Leek Road site in Stoke-on-Trent. The single-storey building is timber frame with timber cladding and features an external timber canopy covered walkway for social interaction. It is highly energy efficient, air-tight and is targeting net-zero whole life carbon.

Other sustainable features of the building include rehau earth tubes and air source heat pumps which use passive cooling/heating rather than mechanical ventilation; along with roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels to offset carbon emissions.

Organisers of the Insider West Midlands Property Awards hailed the project as impressive, saying: “This Net Zero carbon scheme is both a great example of what can be achieved with educational facilities and a fantastic tool in which to inspire the next generation to think more sustainably in their daily lives.”

The Insider West Midlands Property Awards were held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

Nottingham-based Henry Brothers Construction is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out.

In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors.

For more information, visit henrybrothers.co.uk/