A local building sector business, Sisk, has been recognised after the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) offices in Armagh won a top UK environmental assessment award.

The NSMC office project received a prestigious BREEAM Award at the Ecobuild 2011 event in London for achieving the highest BREEAM score for an office development.

The Belfast-based construction firm worked with engineers Buro Happold and architects Scott Wilson URS to complete the offices for its client, Armagh City Council, in an accelerated 43-week project last spring.

The award was accepted by engineering consultancy Buro Happold which provided BREEAM Assessment, Building Services engineering, Fire engineering and Energy Performance Certification services for the project.

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Mark Barr, Sisk Business Development Executive, said: "This was a superb project which shows that sustainable construction is increasingly being used to enhance modern buildings.

"It required innovation, teamwork and a commitment to sustainable build and design to achieve the building's BREEAM rating. It's a major accolade to have this recognised nationally."

The building was designed to maximise passive solar design through its layout which optimises the amount of daylight filtered deep in to the building via glazed curtain walling and internal courtyard, thereby reducing the reliance on artificial light and total electrical energy demand. In addition all lights are low energy efficient fittings and fully daylight controlled.

Natural ventilation was harnessed where possible throughout the majority of internal spaces enabled by the building's narrow floor plan and internal courtyard.

The building's efficiency is enhanced through excellent thermal insulation and air tightness standards which reduced the building heating energy demands.

Space heating and domestic hot water needs are met by a biomass boiler located in an external energy centre. The energy centre is constructed with a sedum roof to absorb rainwater and reduce the amount of storm water run-off discharged in to the main drainage system. Low water use fittings were also installed throughout the design.

(GK/BMcC)