Ellmer Construction proudly announces its success at The Wood Awards 2006, held at Carpenters’ Hall, London, on 19th October. 

The Awards, which are presented annually, encourage the highest general standard of joinery and design in timber, associated with building construction in the UK.

Each year, a handful of unique awards are presented at the discretion of the judging panel. New for 2006 was the Offsite Manufactured Project Award, presented to Ellmer for its involvement with the Roche Head Office building in Welwyn Garden City. The project was short listed from 206 entries, including the Core at the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Savill Building in Windsor Great Park.

Based on the idea of a covered ‘street’, the Roche UK Headquarters provides a working environment for 1,200 people. The building itself points the future direction for wood in building components, utilising a solid American white oak unitised and cavity-ventilated cladding system. The bespoke and patented walling system is entirely new to the UK and was recognised by the judges, who presented Ellmer with their second award of the night, the Innovation Award.

The judges praised the quality of joinery and finish, the high quality and generous use of timber, which all came from FSC sustainable sources, and described the project as ‘a lovely building, in an attractively landscaped site’.

January 2007