Centres for working and learning up for Award

A college’s new workshop, a company’s new HQ and a spiritual centre are the very different finalists in the Small Non-Residential category of the 2016 ProCon Leicestershire property and construction awards.

The buildings have been created for Leicester College, Optimax and the Radha Soami Satsang Beas organisation

The category, sponsored by Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors, is one of six in this year’s ProCon Awards.

The ProCon Awards’ overall sponsors are Salus Approved Inspectors, Spearing Waite, Unique Window Systems and Westleigh Partnerships. The Leicester Mercury is the Awards’ media partner.

The Small Non-Residential Scheme of the Year finalists are:

The Motor Vehicle Engineering Workshop, Leicester College, submitted by Stepnell

The Motor Vehicle Engineering Workshop is a modern single storey teaching facility at Leicester College’s Abbey Park Campus for the growing numbers of learners signing up for motor vehicle engineering courses.

The building is the first phase of the College’s new vocational Skills Village development funded by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), one of its first projects in Leicester.

The new workshop includes two classrooms and extensive practical facilities for car and motorcycle skills.

Optimax, Market Harborough, submitted by Corporate Architecture

A growing technology company, Optimax wanted a modern versatile open-plan office building with workshops for the maintenance of high precision equipment, a large showroom and a product demonstration area.

Located on the Peaker Park development site, on the eastern edge of Market Harborough, the building’s two floors include floor space of more than 4,000 square feet.

As microscopic engineers, Optimax have a keen appreciation for fine tolerances so there was added emphasis on achieving excellent workmanship and construction quality.

Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) Building, Leicester, submitted by rg+p

The RSSB Building is a modern, bright and peaceful meeting place for the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) Science of the Soul (SOS), a philosophical organisation.

The new development provides them with a permanent base to host meetings, seminars, lectures and spiritual teachings. It is sited on the former Leicester College Charles Keene College Annexe site on Abbey Park Street.

Outside there are lawns and gardens with newly planted trees and shrubs to provide attractive, peaceful external areas for RSSB and SOS followers to meet.

Ashley Cooper, senior partner at Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors, said: “It is wonderful to see such a great collection of projects as finalists.

“They demonstrate that organisations across Leicestershire are investing in landmark buildings which improve the built environment for students, businesses and the public to use and enjoy. We are very pleased to be sponsoring the ProCon Awards which celebrate their achievements.”

The winner will be announced at a November ceremony at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.

The other five awards are:

• Regeneration Project of the Year, sponsored by Cambridge & Counties Bank
• Small Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Infrastructure Investments
• Large Residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Infrastructure Investments
• Large Non-residential Scheme of the Year, sponsored by Edward Cooper Young Chartered Surveyors
• Sustainable Development of the Year, sponsored by EME Installations