Considerate Constructors Scheme announces winners of the first national Big Build Competition
Robertson Construction, Cedar Developments and Carillion Civil Engineering have been named as the winners of the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s Honor’s Big Build competition to involve local communities in designing and constructing buildings made from recyclable materials.
Some 32 teams comprising 900 adults and schoolchildren entered designs for buildings that were both innovative and protected the environment.
The Big Build competition is named after Honor Goodsite, the female construction industry mascot introduced by the Considerate Constructors Scheme in 2016 to improve the image of the industry.
Robertson Construction engaged with Marine Park First School in Tyne & Wear to recreate the Spanish City Dome, a landmark building in Whitley Bay. Using recyclable materials from the site itself, 30 pupils developed a futuristic interpretation of how the Spanish City Dome would look if it had been built in the 21st century.
Meanwhile, Cedar Developments worked with the Isle of Man-based Eastcliffe Resource Industrial Centre (ERIC), a workshop for adults with learning disabilities, to build a scaled-down version of a traditional Manx cottage. The model will be used in the Adult Resources’ new garden centre as a chicken shelter.
Carillion Civil Engineering partnered with Wellesley School in Yate, Somerset, to create a sustainable railway station. As well as building, pupils had to design and cost the project. They also had to incorporate no fewer than three sustainable design elements into the model, choosing features including a green roof wildlife habitat and rainwater storage for flushing the station’s toilets.
The winning schools and community group each received a £100 Amazon gift voucher and Honor Goodsite Fun Packs. The winning contractors received a complimentary hire of the Honor Goodsite costume. All are featured in the Honor Goodsite Big Build Competition brochure.
Peter Littlewood, director of the Young People’s Trust for the Environment, said: “It’s fantastic that young people are being encouraged to learn about the environmental impacts of construction and create their own designs using recyclable materials.
“Honor’s Big Build provides a really interesting challenge for young people, while giving them the opportunity to learn new skills by working with experienced construction industry professionals.”
Edward Hardy, chief executive of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, added: “The success of Honor’s Big Build highlights how scheme-registered sites, companies and suppliers are committed to engaging with local schools and communities in order to improve the image of our industry and inspire future generations to join construction.
“Honor’s Big Build helps to deliver three really important messages to children and young adults: how exciting the construction industry is to work in; how important protecting the environment is when creating buildings; and how construction is open to everyone by having a female industry mascot helping to challenge the perception that construction is only for men.
“We look forward to seeing even greater participation in this fantastic competition next year.”
