Case Study: Ashington Hirst Welfare one-stop-shop

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Jul 4, 2007

Extensive Green Roof from Bauder was suitable for shape of building, with mono-pitched roofs connected to single storey blocks to create a major part of the overall design.

Extensive Green Roof System at Ashington Hirst Welfare One-Stop-Shop.

The Project .

For generations Hirst Welfare was the centre for local communities social and sporting life with miners from local collieries making weekly contributions through their pay packets to fund them.

Football legends like Jack and Bobby Charlton all dreamt of glory when they played soccer at their local Hirst Welfare Centre.

However the decline of the mining industry meant that inevitably the centres ran into disrepair before finally being demolished a number of years ago.

The Challenge .

In January 2000 Wansbeck District Council took action and established four one-stop-shops also known as Infopoints, to install everyday amenities such as libraries and sports facilities back into the local community.

The Architect Ged McCormack and the client Ashington Joint Welfare Trust wanted to place an emphasis on sustainability as the project was to be built on a site that had always been 'green'.

The Solution.

The extensive green roof, provided the ideal solution that not only echoed the client's and architect's requirements but was suitable for the shape of the building, with mono-pitched roofs connected to single storey blocks to create a major part of the overall design.

The use of the single ply roofing system as the waterproofing build up was the preferred aesthetic solution to the steep pitched south facing hall roof which houses an array of photovoltaic and water solar collector panels.

The Outcome When combined, the Bauder extensive and Bauder single ply systems provide one of the most environmentally friendly waterproofing solutions available on today's market.

In 2002 there were over 20,000 direct enquiries through the four Infopoints in the first 12 months, putting them on target to deal with 70,000 enquiries this year.