Extension to police HQ recognised for excellence
THE impressive extension of South Wales Police’s Bridgend Headquarters has been recognised at the South Wales LABC Building Excellence Awards.
Constructors Willmott Dixon picked up the accolade for Best Large Commercial Building at a ceremony in the Vale Resort after the project had also won the same category in the Bridgend County Borough leg of the awards.
The two-storey police HQ, which was built during the Second World War as part of the munition operations, had to be extended and refurbished while police operations continued at the site, and Willmott Dixon were commended for their organised approach.
The refurbishment included the introduction of a new heating and high efficiency lighting system, while the opportunity was also taken to upgrade the fire safety system. All new materials were selected to minimise the environ- mental impact and were obtained from sustainable sources.
Although the extension has been completed, other building work at the police HQ site will continue for a few more years.
Councillor Richard Young, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The extension of the police headquarters was one of the stand-out projects at our own Bridgend County Borough leg of the LABC Building Excellence Awards, so I am delighted to see it succeed in the South Wales awards. It will now go forward to the national ceremony which will be held at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre in the autumn.”
Councillor Young added: “The LABC Building Excellence Awards are about celebrating excellence from the drawing board to the site. The local leg of the awards is organised by the council’s building control team which carries out 7,000 inspections every year, from checking the foundations of a new house to the steel structures of an industrial project.
“These awards recognise the quality of workmanship shown by constructors to not only comply with building regulations, but to also show the highest standards of technical innovation to construct buildings that meet customer needs and look great.”