Award winning contractor, Thomas Vale Construction, is pleased to announce their flagship project - new Birmingham City Council offices in Woodcock Street, Aston - has been awarded exemplar demonstration project status through The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE).
                                                                                    
Michael Thompson, Executive Director of WMCCE, said: "We are delighted that the Woodcock Street project has achieved WMCCE demonstration project status.  It is, to my mind, a very special project and in demonstration project terms I expect a lot of innovation to come out of it."
 
The innovative nature of the project is in-keeping with its close proximity to Aston Science Park and is set to bring long term benefits to the local community. Innovations in design and build will be supported by the use of new technology throughout the building to create a greener, more efficient council workspace that will help employees to deliver a better service to the citizens of Birmingham.
 
Councillor Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council welcomed the nomination: 'The Woodcock Street office development represents our largest single investment in new council accommodation for over 100 years. This nomination recognises the great steps forward we are making in incorporating cutting edge sustainable building techniques into our flagship office development. It will host a range of innovative sustainable features from 'brown' roofs through to solar water heating and will help Birmingham City Council achieve substantial energy savings well into the future.'
 
An example of the cutting edge construction techniques are the pre-cast concrete external wall panelling system. They feature a limestone façade to the front elevation and special brickwork detailing to the sides and rear elevations. These  panels are being installed onto the building from mid-June 2010 onwards, and will result in a quicker on-site construction process, provide an outstanding quality to the finished facades and contribute to the overall cost and time savings demanded by this ambitious project.
 
The completed building will house a range of best practice sustainable features such combined heating and power supply, passive ventilation system (much more efficient than traditional air conditioning) and a brown roof - helping preserve the local wildlife including protecting a special local bird - the Black Redstart.
 
Steve Vickers, General Manager, Urban Design, Birmingham City Council said:
"This most notable recognition of Thomas Vale Construction and the Woodcock Street project reflects the objectives and spirit of the Birmingham Construction Partnership, which Thomas Vale has worked tirelessly with Urban Design in developing for the Council. It has embraced the principles of the construction commitments - and it represents the best in value for money for the City Council."
 
For more information please contact Aimee Hyde on 01299 827770