A Wirral-based construction firm has been announced as a finalist in the first ever Making Better Homes Awards, a competition from national builders’ merchant Jewson.
Orka Construction will now compete in an online vote against two other finalists in the Best Building Fabric category of the awards, with entrants in the Best Use of Renewable Energy and Best Sustainable Project of the Year categories also going head-to-head. Winners will be announced at a ceremony later this year.
Created to recognise the tradespeople who are working hard to create energy efficient, safe and comfortable homes, the Making Better Homes Awards received a wealth of entries from up and down the country. After nominations closed, a panel of judges assessed all the entries with the three highest scoring projects in each category making the shortlist.
Orka Construction’s entry focused on the development of two residential dwellings which were designed to adhere to a zero-carbon standard. They achieved unparalleled air tightness by implementing a strategic blend of diverse materials and cutting-edge systems.
Rob Perry, commercial director of Orka Construction (pictured left), said: “Being shortlisted for the Best Building Fabric in a Project Award is an absolute honour and it’s a great feeling to have our dedication to quality and sustainability recognised. It validates the hard work and passion we have invested into this project.
“We aim to showcase what is achievable with sustainable building fabrics in the hope that more individuals will begin to build using modern methods of construction. By encouraging people to adopt these practices, we aspire to contribute to the transformation of the construction industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly direction.
“We believe our quality, attention to detail, and commitment to sustainability make us deserving contenders for this award.”
Sitting on the judging panel were Gavin Crane, CEO for Band of Builders, Nicola De Sousa, central director for the Federation of Master Builders, Matthew Handley, category innovation manager at Jewson, and Chris Pearman, regional sales manager at Build Aviator.
Gavin Crane said of Orka Construction’s project: “This fabric-first approach to create energy-efficient, zero-carbon homes is impressive. Orka Construction have effectively highlighted the combination of materials and systems that work together to achieve these goals, making life more comfortable for the occupants.”
The public can now vote online for the winners of the three categories – Best Building Fabric in a Project, Best Use of Renewable Energy in a Project, and Best Sustainable Project of the Year.
