BUILDINGS RECOGNIZED FOR HELPING EFFECTIVE CLEANING

Buildings across the UK have been recognised for helping to make life better for their cleaning staff.

The McLaren Technology Centre, near Woking, won the Overall Gold Award in the 2006 Building Cleanability Awards, promoted by the cleaning industry Livery Company – The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners.

Runner-up was The Trafford Centre, near Manchester, which gained the Silver Award, ahead of Matthew Boulton College, Birmingham, which won the Bronze Award.

Other major winners were: Ropewalk Shopping Centre, Nuneaton for the New Building Award, Community Health Centre, Leicester for the Refurbishment Projects Award and Wishaw General Hospital, Motherwell for the new Brian Cole Environmental Award, for its environmental ‘awareness’.

National Category Winners were: Vodafone Balliol House, Adderbury – Commercial; Kingfisher Building, Enfield College, London – Education; Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Liverpool – Health; National Trust, Swindon – Heritage; International Conference Centre, Edinburgh – Hospitality; Mecca Bingo, Fountain Park, Edinburgh – Leisure; The British Library, London – Municipal/Public; Debenhams, Milton Keynes – Retail; International Airport, Bristol – Transport.

The Awards were presented by The Master of The Livery Company, Stephen Wright at a Luncheon Presentation Ceremony at The Brewery, London on 10th July attended by over 400 guests.

A total of 89 buildings were nominated for this bi-ennial Awards scheme from all parts of the UK. Each building was assessed against a wide range of relevant criteria and awarded a 5, 4 or 3 star grading certificate.

The Building Cleanability Awards are run in association with Awards Patron, The British Cleaning Council, with further sponsorship provided by; The British Institute of Cleaning Science, The Cleaning and Support Services Association, Greenham, Karcher, Mayflower Washroom Solutions and Pertrac International.

The Awards are also supported by a number of professional bodies involved in building construction or management, including The Chartered Institute of Building, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, The Health and Safety Executive, The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and The British Institute of Facilities Management.

“We are delighted by the response to these important Awards”, quotes Awards Chairman, Graham Jones, “since it is our hope that all new buildings will eventually be subjected to a cleanability audit, against a range of criteria covering design and building material fitness for purpose. Keeping buildings clean and comfortable for staff and visitors is becoming increasingly important in the modern world and if certain buildings suffer from poor cleanability issues, the impact on those occupying them can be significant”.

You can read about the National and 5 Star Awards Winners for the 2005/2006 Building Cleanability Awards on this website. The next Awards will be launched in July 2007