Monday, 1st October 2007

The Nucleus at Chesterford Research Park wins Prestigious Architectural Award

The Nucleus, Chesterford Research Park’s central facilities building developed by The Churchmanor Estates Company Plc and Morley Fund Management and designed by Cambridge-based Barber Casanovas Ruffles architects, has been awarded a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award Commendation within the Eastern Region business category. The award was presented to Neil Ruffles (Principal - Barber Casanovas Ruffles) and John Harvey (Associate Director - The Churchmanor Estates Company Plc) at an evening ceremony held at Ickworth House, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk on 28th September 2007.

The highly prestigious RIBA awards scheme is aimed at recognising design ingenuity and architectural excellence demonstrated by architects and their clients across all types of building projects around the country.

Providing some 22,000 sq ft of mixed-use amenity space, The Nucleus is strategically located within the Park, close to the Park’s main driveway and overlooking the original Park Mansion and Arboretum. With its stunning, triple-height entrance area, which acts as a central meeting forum, it provides outstanding conference facilities and “break out” areas, together with a large restaurant, a café bar and shop, and a state-of-the-art health and fitness centre which incorporates a fully fitted gymnasium, sauna and steam room.

Speaking about the award, Neil Ruffles, Principal at Barber Casanovas Ruffles practice (BCR), commented: “It is always particularly pleasing for architects to have their work recognised by the architectural profession, especially when we have worked hand-in-hand with a client to deliver such a visionary scheme which combines both professional and social activities and encourages interaction”.

The two-storey Nucleus building is predominantly masonry clad with fibrous cement panels and aluminium eaves and soffits. The overhanging eaves conceal the low level metal pitched roof behind and the superstructure is steel framed with concrete floors. To encourage external use of the building, a large stressed skin canopy is attached to the dining room and covers a decked dining and events space. The main entrance portico is also made of a tented canopy.

BCR have designed all of the new buildings at Chesterford Research Park, and were recently involved in the refurbishment of the 19th century Mansion House building there.