Builder chosen for £5.6m NMA events building
A construction company has been chosen to build the £5.6 million new events building for the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, near Lichfield.
The contract award to Rugby-headquartered Stepnell follows the success of the Remembrance Centre previously built by Stepnell at the arboretum, which is the UK’s national focus for remembrance.
The Remembrance Centre opened to the public in October last year and was officially opened by the Duke of Cambridge earlier this year. It has received a series of architectural and construction awards.
The events building has been designed by Glen Howells Architects – who also designed the Remembrance Centre – and is being built in the second phase of the arboretum’s development programme.
It will create a high-quality, permanent venue for its many different functions and events.
The Stepnell team will start work at the end of this month with the project due to be completed next summer.
The 2,500 sq metres building will offer banqueting space for up to 300 guests, a bar area for drinks receptions, kitchen and meeting rooms.
It has been designed to complement the Remembrance Centre and the single-storey steel-framed building will feature timber cladding and extensive glazing giving views over the arboretum grounds, which is home to around 350 memorials and 30,000 trees. The design incorporates wind catchers, an energy-efficient form of natural ventilation.
Stepnell construction director Bill Haynes said: “After the highly successful Remembrance Centre project, everyone is pleased and excited to be continuing our excellent working relationship with the arboretum through this second project. We are proud to have been appointed to deliver this superb addition to the arboretum’s facilities and look forward to starting work.”
Accolades for the Remembrance Centre built by Stepnell, which has its area office at Kidderminster, at the arboretum include a Royal Institute of British Architects national \ward, the RIBA West Midlands building of the year title and the award for natural and cultural heritage at the British Construction Industry Awards.
Stepnell project manager John Neill also won gold at the 2017 Construction Manager of the Year Awards for his role in overseeing its construction.
Family-owned Stepnell Ltd undertakes all types of building projects, including complex schemes, up to £30 million in value. It was established in the 1870s.
