Pick Everard up for Design and Architecture Award

Pick Everard has been short-listed for a 2009 Design and Architecture award for its work on Orbis Energy, a GBP9million building on Lowestoft's waterfront.

The awards are being organised by the UK's leading magazine for sustainability and the built environment, Sustain.

Orbis Energy was designed to be an environmental exemplar and Pick Everard's work on the showcase building quickly earned it an acclaimed International Green Apple Gold Winner award for energy efficiency.

The five-storey, multi-purpose construction that opened last autumn features a striking glass facade, undercroft parking and includes conference and exhibition facilities, providing small to medium-sized start-up businesses - all in the renewable energy sector - with 30,000 square feet of office and workshop space.

Pick Everard used its leading edge expertise in sustainable design and the latest building management systems technology to reduce the structure's environmental impact.

Natural ventilation and heat recovery, comfort cooling and solar thermal hot water heating will keep seasonal temperature fluctuations to a minimum and reduce the building's carbon footprint.

Space heating uses a locally sourced boiler fuelled by sustainable woodchips and facilities to enable future rainwater harvesting are also in place.

The whole envelope was designed to protect the building from the harsh sunlight, driving rain and strong salt laden winds that typify British coastal weather.

Andrew Bannister, Environmental Manager at Pick Everard comments, "We're delighted to have been recognised in this way and shortlisted by Sustain magazine".

"Orbis Energy has been a wonderful opportunity for Pick Everard to provide a genuinely low-energy, low-impact building that really works and that provides a focus for regeneration".

"Orbis Energy is a great example of how the next generation of buildings will be made.

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