It is celebrations all round at the Regional Agricultural Centre (RAC) with news that the £5m state-or-the-art building has won a second top industry award.  Hot on the heels of scooping one of the Harrogate Civic Society Design Awards, comes news that the new home of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society has also been successful in the prestigious Estates Gazette 2009 Green Awards.

Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of the Society said: “To win not one, but two major awards in a fortnight is a tremendous achievement, and speaks volumes for the exceptional quality of our building, and the team which has worked so hard on the project.”

The RAC took the “New Build” category in the Harrogate Civic Society Design Awards, and was joint winner in the Estates Gazette (EG) Green Awards in the Retail/Leisure Development category.

Commenting on the Regional Agricultural Centre, the EG judges said: “Small certainly is beautiful in this instance. This thoughtful design works in harmony with its rural surroundings and its outstanding green credentials make this mixed-use building a leading light for other smaller-scale developments.”

The team behind the award winning building are P+HS Architects, quantity surveyors, Derrick Kershaw Partnership and Houseman & Falshaw, contractors.

Said Mr Pulling: “We wanted a building which would make a statement, but also have sustainability at its heart. Our aim was for it to be a showcase to demonstrate how “being green” works in practice, and to inspire and inform others. Our Society was formed more than 150 years ago by farmers who were progressive and innovative and clearly that ethos continues today.”

The RAC comprises offices for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society staff, the Fodder regional food shop and café, and offices which are being let to rurally related businesses.  The build project was challenging, not least because it had to be completed without adversely affecting the annual Great Yorkshire Show held in July.

Key sustainable elements include the timber frame, the living sedum roof, sheeps’ wool used for insulation, and re-cycled plastic bottles used for doors and vanity units in the toilets.

Adrian Taylor, Director, P+HS Architects commented: “The practice has been involved in projects with a number of sustainable elements, but this is the first where 22 different items have all been incorporated into one.  This is a huge tribute to the talent and determination of the team involved in this fabulous building. The RAC is a flagship for the region, achieving everything it set out to do, whilst retaining the core values of sustainability and actively promoting its green credentials. It was ready on time and within budget - the results speak for themselves.” P+HS Architects are based in Stokesley, North Yorkshire and central Leeds.

STOP PRESS – Fodder has just been shortlisted in the 2009 Countryside Alliance Awards in the Rural Enterprise category. Watch this space!

For further information please contact Judy Thompson, PR Manager on 01423 546218 or email judyt@yas.co.uk