News

22 March 2012

Think Low Carbon Centre Scoops Prize for Sustainability

Tuesday night saw Jefferson Sheard Architects celebrating in style at the Hilton Hotel Canary Wharf, London. Our design for Barnsley College’s Think Low Carbon Centre has already won its first award having just been completed in late November 2011.

Winner of the Energy Award at the 2012 annual Sustain Magazine Awards, the Think Low Carbon Centre is one of the first Sustainable Centres of its kind in the UK. The Award recognises excellence in energy efficiency in trade and industry.

The initial step in Barnsley’s initiative to create a Low Carbon Innovation Park, the Centre opened officially in late February and has already begun to help SMEs to increase their understanding of sustainable technologies and construction methods. The project is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £2.75 million of investment from the European Regional Development Fund through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013.

By providing a knowledge transfer hub the Think Low Carbon Centre aims to generate new business opportunities, not only in Barnsley but throughout the region. Principal of Barnsley College Colin Booth said, “Working together with existing and new partners we hope to drive down this region’s carbon footprint and increase its development and sustainability”.

Tom Rhys Jones, Managing Director and Architect at Jefferson Sheard, was present at the Awards ceremony and commented: “Though relatively modest in size, the Think Low Carbon Centre is one of the most important buildings that we ever have designed. Both through its existence and its function, it will have a social, economic and environmental impact that will be felt throughout South Yorkshire and beyond. We are very proud of it and of the great collaboration with our clients and other project partners that have made it possible – so this award is for all of them.”