CLAW PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2023
The CLAW Awards are open to all Local Authorities within Wales. They reward excellence, raise the profile of CLAW within authorities and in the wider professional property field. Projects entered this year have achieved practical completion between 1st September 2021 and 1st September 2022.
The two categories within the awards are Small Project of the Year and Project of the Year.
Small Project of the Year winner is Remodelling of the Former Kimberley Nursery School - Newport Norse
The delivery team’s decision to entirely remodel this old school building, demonstrates a commendable commitment to sustainable development. The judges were impressed with the pupil-centric stakeholder collaboration that took place during the early design stages, and the contractor’s approach to social value impact during the build where they worked closely with the community to mitigate the impact of the works and give something back. The success of the project is clear from the new head teacher’s glowing testimonial: “…If we could turn the clock back to the planning stage there is very little we would do differently as the finished layout and facilities are meeting pupil needs outstandingly well.” Congratulations to Newport Norse and the project delivery team.
Project of the Year was a very strong category this year, with a welcome focus on sustainable retrofit and refurbishment projects. As such, the judges have therefore decided to award two highly commended:
In alphabetical order the 1st highly commended is awarded for the Refurbishment of Crown Buildings - Wrexham County Borough Council
The judges felt the Wrexham refurbishment project was an exemplar case study, and one which has relevance for many similar estates across Wales as carbon-driven retrofitting becomes more commonplace. The works successfully transformed the failing existing building with a largely successful, contemporary architectural response whilst also improving its landscape setting. The consideration given to carbon savings achieved by avoiding demolition was welcomed, as was the data driven approach to quantifying the energy improvements the project delivered. Congratulations to Wrexham County Borough Council and the project delivery team.
The second highly commended goes to Ysgol y Graig Primary School – Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
The judges felt Ysgol y Graig delivered a well-considered, artful architectural response on a challenging site, deftly dealing with level changes, accessibility and space constraints with a lightness of touch to put young learners at the heart of the project. Well finished interiors, tasteful material choices and thoughtful, restrained detailing have been combined to create a school with its own identity and a delightful sense of place without compromising the practical, operational considerations of maintenance and durability. Congratulations to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and the project delivery team.
And finally the winner of Project of the Year is the Plaza Cinema Re-development – Neath Port Talbot Council
The judges loved the sensitive restoration of this beautiful listed building, and were particularly impressed with the highly collaborative approach to Design and Build that delivered the scheme so successfully. The thoughtful, well-coordinated modern extension tucked in behind the listed frontage worked tremendously well, leaning into its colourful aesthetic of exposed services and original brickwork without ever competing with the heritage and history of the old cinema. Delivering all of this on such a tight site is impressive, and to top it off, the building’s potential for positive impact on the community was evident. Very well done to Neath Port Talbot and the design and build team.
Congratulations to all four projects.
