Sailing Academy Wins Top Sustainability Award
The new Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre at Pwllheli has scooped another prestigious award.
The Institution of Civil Engineers’ top award for sustainability is the third major award to be won by the project this year.
Engineered and project managed by Gwynedd Council’s YGC consultancy, Plas Heli is a state of the art facility for sailors at all levels of competence and ability. As well as hosting dinghy events of national and international standard, the facilities also cater for keelboat events, yachting regattas and other water sports activities.
The judges praised YGC and its partners for delivering the project for well under the original budget and for the way dredge material has been used to reclaim land for wildlife.
“All members of the team worked together to achieve a building totally fit for purpose and marina facilities that can be further expanded as finances permit,” they stated.
Earlier this year Plas Heli won the Best Public Building award at the Local Authority Building Control North Wales awards. The building was also among five winners of the RSAW Welsh Architecture Awards, and YGC won the RSAW Client of the Year Award for its work on the project.
“All this is another fantastic success for Plas Heli and for Gwynedd’s YGC consultancy work in general,” said Councillor John Wynn Jones, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Environment.
“We are delighted that the work of YGC’s dedicated and talented team getting the recognition it deserves from prestigious professional national organisations.
“We are especially pleased with our latest sustainability award from the Institution of Civil Engineers, as sustainability has been at the heart of the project since its very beginning.
“Alongside the construction of this iconic Plas Heli building, key environmental improvements have been made to the marina. The reclaimed land will provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife.
“It is also highly significant that YGC have succeeded in delivering the project for 65% of the original vision budget. When you consider how many projects go over budget, this is a truly remarkable achievement. It shows how YGC makes full use of its expertise to bring value for money for its clients.”
YGC received the award with design partners Ellis Williams Architects Ltd, and construction partners Wynne Construction and Jones Bros Ruthin, in front of an audience of 250 industry leaders at the ICE Wales Cymru Awards 2016, held at the Marriott Hotel in Cardiff recently.
The £8.9 million National Sailing Academy and Events Centre project, is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and Gwynedd Council.
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