FOR those of us who live in the communities in which we work, it seems only common sense that what we do leaves a positive lasting legacy. In construction, this is as important as with anything else we do in life.
When we are gone, our children and grandchildren should be able to benefit from and enjoy the buildings we have created, and we should use the tools at our disposal to ensure the facilities are as sustainable as possible.
The Hub, at Barnard Castle, a project which I have overseen, is an example of how this has been done to award-winning standards.
Not only did the team behind it win the Project of the Year Award at Constructing Excellence in the North East's 2011 awards last month, it also took the Legacy Award for Sustainability, something I believe is even more worthy of celebration.
The reason I cherish that accolade in particular is that sustainability was one of the driving forces behind the whole project.
For example, a key aim when developing The Hub was to ensure that the cost of running the facility for this and future generations was as low as possible.
With that in mind, such technologies as underfloor heating and heat exchangers, served by wood-fired boilers, have been used to keep these costs down. We are currently monitoring the actual efficiency savings being made to get a more detailed picture of the benefits this will have over the coming years.
While it is vital that when we build, we build for the future, recognising the past, especially when developing for the community, is also important.
As a former design champion for the regional development agency One North East, I felt that ensuring The Hub blends in with the surroundings was vital. For example, the use of Teesdale stone has been a key factor in the materials consideration, while the entranceway – shaped like arched railway lines – reflects the history of the site, which is on the old Darlington to Barnard Castle-line track bed.
Not only does this mean that the building fits in with its surroundings and benefits local tradesmen, it also acts as a reminder of the area’s heritage for future generations.
Throughout the development, we worked with young people from the Barnard Castle area, recognising that The Hub is for their use now, and for them to help run in years to come, and hopefully pass on to their descendents when that time comes.
Working with young people for their own futures is a great way of passing on this message of sustainability and legacy, but let none of us involved with construction now ever forget that what we do is here for many years to come.
For more information on Constructing Excellence in the North East, please contact chief executive Catriona Lingwood on 0191 374 0233 or catriona@cene.org.uk
Phil Hughes, chairman and founder of Teesdale Community Resources