Collaborative team working saw Cheltenham-based Kier Construction scoop the ‘Value Award’ at the South West Built Environment Awards 2012 for its £2.6m Gloucester Coroner’s Court complex.

The Constructing Excellence South West and Chartered Institute of Building, South West Built Environment Awards are designed to showcase excellence and award achievement from organisations and project teams in the south-west region. This year’s awards were presented at a gala dinner which took place at the Bristol Marriott Hotel last Friday evening.

The Value Award recognises a project on which long-term value has been achieved. Judges considered how the project had been designed and constructed to ensure maximum benefit for end users and how achieving this optimum outcome was a key driver throughout the design and construction process.

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Close partnership working between Kier, its client Gloucestershire County Council, and all involved parties saw a 10% saving made on the Coroner’s Court complex which houses inquest and morgue facilities. Every aspect of the design underwent a value engineering exercise after government cuts meant construction costs needed to be slashed. The team spirit that had been fostered through the design stage played an important part in the essential cost cutting exercise and after a magnificent effort by everyone involved, the savings hit target - making it a worthy winner of the Value Award.

The completed dual-function building provides a practical solution to the county’s autopsy requirements and a central courtroom facility for the coroner’s hearings and will achieve ongoing cost savings for the council as previously outside venues were hired for inquests. All this and the project was completed early, with zero defects, within budget and with a team hoping to work together again.

Commenting on the award win Kier Construction director, Stuart Pratt, said: "We are extremely pleased and proud to have won this award; it is another demonstration of how a collaborative team can produce outstanding results whilst providing excellent value for our clients."

(CD)