Pictured above are Stuart Davidson and Robert Hewitt.
The Borders College STEM Hub Eco Room, based in Hawick, has been named as a winner at this year’s prestigious Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2021.
Carrying the accolade in the ‘Commercial Project of the Year’ category, the specialised construction, designed by Stuart Davidson Architecture, saw off stiff competition from two other shortlisted projects.
The Eco Room is part of the STEM Hub, utilising a Passive House approach to ensure high-energy efficiency, making the best use of new materials, super insulation, triple glazing and solar gain. Its Passive House design ensures airtightness and creates a space that is self-ventilating.
Hosted by comedian and radio presenter Des Clarke, this virtual event took place recently and, after a year’s absence, the cream of Scotland’s property professionals joined The Herald’s Awards Room Platform to hear the announcement of the winners in all 17 categories.
The fantastic achievement expands on the Eco Room being ‘highly commended’ at The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) annual awards in December 2020, where it was described as having ‘good architectural design technology and design aspects.’
Robert Hewitt, Facilities Manager at Borders College commented:
“To win this award, just as COP26 begins, really demonstrates how seriously Borders College is taking its commitment to sustainability and working towards a net-zero future.
“The award is testament to the state of the art building, which showcases the latest sustainable construction methods and demonstrates how we can build comfortable modern homes, and meet our zero-emissions targets.
“The Eco Room and the Sustainable Construction Hub will be pivotal in upskilling our local workforce to tackle the climate emergency challenges we face.”
