The new Broad Marsh Car Park, Bus Station and Central Library building has won another major construction industry award.
It was named the Overall Winner after scooping the Sustainable Development of the Year and Commercial Development of the Year prizes at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022.
Carried out by contractors Galliford Try on behalf of Nottingham City Council, the development saw an ugly 1970s car park and bus station replaced with an architecturally stunning building containing a Park Mark-accredited multi-storey car park, bright and airy new bus station, double-height Central Library and retail space surrounded by vibrant public realm. It is a landmark development at the heart of the £2bn regeneration of Nottingham’s Southside.
In line with the council’s ambition for Nottingham to become the first UK carbon neutral city by 2028, Broad Marsh is one of the greenest car parks in the country, leading to its Sustainable Development of the Year win. It has 81 electric vehicle charging points – the largest car park installation in the UK – and 720 roof-mounted solar panels to power the car park and bus station, energy-efficient lighting and a Vehicle Management System to navigate drivers to free spaces quickly, reducing vehicle emissions. Also 95% of the demolition material was recycled into the new building.
Its Commercial Development of the Year success came thanks to it contributing more than £30m of economic value to the city during construction; effective collaboration between contractors, the council and other partners; best practice design and innovation; as well as rising to the challenges of the Covid pandemic striking shortly after the start of the project.
The car park has seen steady increase in use since it opened last November, the bus station will soon be fully operational when Trent Barton services join National Express on site and fit-out of the Central Library is underway for completion next summer.
The latest awards success comes after the project emergedwinner of the Integration and Collaborative Working Award and runner-up in the Building Project of the Year at the East Midlands Construction Excellence Awards.
City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “This is a project that all who were involved in should be immensely proud of. In the face of challenges including the Covid pandemic, they have created a wonderful landmark building in the heart of the Broad Marsh area as it is transformed into a welcoming gateway to the city. It has also delivered on the green credentials we need in modern buildings, and all involved certainly deserve these awards and recognition.
“It’s great to now see the car park and bus station in use and the library starting to take shape, in a building we are extremely proud of.”