An EPIC place to work
The regeneration success story that is the Eliot Park Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Nuneaton has taken another step forward with the clinching of both regional and national awards.
EPIC has added to its comprehensive list of awards for its environmentally friendly construction with both national and regional British Council for Offices (BCO) awards for best commercial workplace.
Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: “The EPIC building has become a flagship for economic regeneration in Warwickshire. Its presence has provided a focal point in enhancing business opportunities in the north of the county, and I’m delighted to see the range of businesses and entrepreneurs we are attracting to Warwickshire.”
EPIC was conceived by Warwickshire County Council and designed by architects SMC Corstorphine & Wright to support the modernisation and growth of the local economy.
At the BCO Awards dinner held on 3 October at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, the judges praised EPIC and commented, “Warwickshire County Council set out to create economic regeneration, rather than straightforward commercial gain, yet it achieved both. Warwickshire County Council showed imagination and political adeptness in the way in which the building was funded and its choice of venture partners.”
Commenting on EPIC’s design, the judges said, “SMC Corstorphine & Wright set out to provide a creative and vibrant image, matching the ethos of the firms it aimed to attract.”
EPIC achieved a BREEAM rating ‘excellent’ and is highly efficient in its handling of energy and waste. The energy generated by the building powers the equivalent of 10,000 energy efficient light bulbs or 700 PC’s per annum, removing 43,000kg of carbon dioxide which would otherwise have been generated by fossil fuels. The foundations of the building were created using recycled North Sea oil pipes. Other environmentally sound design features include photo electric sensors and presence detectors that automatically adjust lighting levels according to occupancy and the natural level of daylight. The overall design and orientation of the building also contributes to EPIC’s highly efficient handling of energy and waste.
Graham Metcalfe, lead architect on EPIC at SMC Corstorphine & Wright, said: “This is a fantastic accolade for EPIC and underlines its status as a pioneering energy-efficient building. Working with Warwickshire County Council, we have created an office space that will benefit SMEs throughout the region and which offers a very appealing working environment. It is an excellent demonstration project to show other landlords and occupiers that achieving BREEAM is not just a process, but actually delivers an amazing working environment that it tangibly better than a normal specification office development.”
The annual BCO awards honour the very best in office space throughout the country and provide public recognition for top quality design and functionality and a benchmark for excellence in workplaces.