Paul Griffiths, Property Manager at RHS with Paul Goyea, Construction Director, William Birch, Alistair Baldwin, Landscape Architect from the Landscape Agency and Simon Potter, Contracts Manager, William Birch –in front of the site of the new Learning Centre and Library at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has awarded York based construction company William Birch a 10-month contract worth over £2.1M. The building firm, which commences work at the RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate on 30 March 2009, will call on a variety of local sustainable energy engineering experts to help construct an innovative, carbon neutral Learning Centre and Library that aims to be one of the greenest buildings in the UK. The £3M RHS project will provide unique facilities in which around 10,000 schoolchildren, families and adults each year will be able to learn the key skills of sustainable gardening and enjoy the life-enriching opportunities it brings.

Talking about the tender process, David Alexander, Head of Estates, RHS, said, “In order for the RHS to meet its objectives in this challenging project, it was crucial for the main contractor to share our commitment to the environment and take on a partner role. William Birch’s tender document and experience met RHS and BREEAM criteria. The company demonstrated expert knowledge in the construction of sustainable buildings and the capability to deliver a Learning Centre and Library that will be inspirational in terms of architectural and engineering design in addition to horticultural education. The build process will be tremendously exciting and we are looking forward to watching the evolution of the building within its surrounding landscape.”

Paul Goyea, Construction Director at William Birch, said, “The RHS has set the Project Team a demanding task to deliver the building under a BREEAM rating of excellent; achieved with a very bespoke design and high quality finish. Considerable effort has already been invested by all participants in developing the competition lead design so that it meets the client’s stringent budgetary control; and by extensive value engineering the Team was pleased to able to offer the building within a £2,150K budget. This means that construction will start in earnest on site in April 2009 with completion by the end of January 2010.”

“What is satisfying about having secured the build for this unusual teaching facility is that it allows Birch to continue its relationship with sustainable development, added to which is our continued success in partnering projects and BREEAM rated schemes – of which Harlow Carr will be the sixth.”

The designers, Eco Arc and Gifford, have incorporated many aspects of ‘green’ technology to meet RHS requirements. All are tried and tested applications, such as:

• Ground source heat pump
• Triple glazing (Passivhaus principals)
• Sedum roof
• Water harvesting
• Solar panels
• Wind turbine
• Sun pipes
• Cement replacement concrete
• Clay blocks
• Natural ventilation
• Timber from sustainable sources, FSC accredited.

“The Project Team will be challenged as to how these are integrated into the building and its building management systems, as well as ensuring that the RHS maintains a return on this long term investment in the local environment.”

RHS Garden Harlow Carr has become a nationally recognised centre and therefore has a prominent profile within the North Yorkshire community. In keeping with this profile the RHS is keen to promote local and regional links and so has stipulated constraints on sourcing resources for the project. This has directed the Project Team to utilise recycled and natural products as well as relying upon some well established relationships with local and regional specialists. William Birch will appoint some 15-20 specialists of varying complexity and size; though all will have in common a real commitment to deliver a first class building that will be an exemplar of design and sustainability.

Email: harlowcarrpr@rhs.org.uk