Continuation of SPACES

From the SPACES newsletter:

SPACES is delighted to announce its renewed commitment to being the only multi-disciplinary society serving the public sector built environment.

We have had some difficult decisions to make in recent months, with the lack of volunteers to replace Greg Keeling and Andrew Rowe whom have stood down after many years of dedicated service to SPACES, but with a new leadership team and a renewed focus, we are excited to continue to build our community and provide invaluable insight into our sector for the foreseeable future.

Our recent AGM elected Alex Gee as our President and he has confirmed that the decision to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to consider the closure of SPACES will now be cancelled. He added, “I am delighted to be leading SPACES into its next phase and our focus will be on adding much needed context to latest developments in our industry and building a succession plan for SPACES in order to be a more sustainable organisation”.

He added, “I am also thrilled to be joined by Raadiyah Rifath-Dodsworth as Vice President and Paul Goold as Finance Director. Our new leadership team will continue to build on the successes of the past and will ensure we continue to provide a rich programme for our members”.

SPACES Study Day update

Study day - The public sector journey to net zero

Study day – The public sector journey to net zero

SPACES Study Day

Delivering Net Zero Carbon (NZC) is the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced, and if ever there was a time to pull together, share knowledge, experiences and network it must be now.

By learning from each other we can stand a chance of saving our planet and meeting NZC targets set by clients and government. So the focus of this event is very much about solutions and learning from actual projects.

On the mainstage we have:

  • Keynote: Levelling Up, Net Zero and Essex: A National and Local Perspective. Tom Walker, Executive Director Economy, Investment and Public Health, Essex County Council
  • Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI). Dr Joe Jack Williams, LETI Member and Associate and Passivhaus Consultant at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
  • The power of people in the reduction of energy consumption: A case study . Dr Samantha Mudie, Head of Energy, University of Reading

With practical, thought provoking, breakouts/workshops interspersed throughout the day, including:

  • DfE Standards and Guidance for Schools and Colleges: User feedback workshop for those involved in supporting new and existing education estates and developments. Jennifer Coldrick, Architect and Design Standards Lead, DfE
  • Net Zero Starts with Cutting Energy Waste Jonathon Hunter Hill, Sector Manager Education, SAV Systems
  • Passivhaus, a constructor’s perspective Matthew Ramplin, Barnes Construction.
  • Radically reducing operational energy: Harris Academy Sutton. Christian Dimbleby, Associate and Chartered Engineer, Archtype
  • Stourton Park & Ride – The first fully solar powered Park & Ride in the UK Nick Beckett, Associate Architect, NPS Leeds.
  • Understanding the State of the Estate: Energy league tables and how to deliver low carbon retrofit. Michael Chater, Senior Architect and Colin Jackson, Senior Design Manager, Hampshire County Council

There will also be a roundtable discussion.

Ticket prices start at £50+VAT.

Find out more and book your tickets

Webinars

Supporting our Study Day will be a series of webinars.

Recently Dan Heffernan, Faithful+Gould and Sarah Cooper, Chapter One opened this year’s Study Day webinars with a presentation on Social Value, Technology and Good Practice. You can watch the video here.

Information on future webinars will be included on the SPACES calendar.

Recordings will be added to Study Day 2023 – The Public Sector Journey to Net Zero.

SPACES Study Day June 2023

Study day - The public sector journey to net zero

Study day – The public sector journey to net zero, University of Reading 22nd June 2023

Delivering Net Zero Carbon (NZC) is the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced, and if ever there was a time to pull together, share knowledge, experiences and network it must be now.

By learning from each other we can stand a chance of saving our planet and meeting NZC targets set by clients and government. So the focus of this event is very much about solutions and learning from actual projects.

We have a programme of leading speakers who will be:

  • sharing with you what tools are available to help deliver NZC
  • presenting their practical experiences from actual projects
  • discussing how you can improve the odds of achieving a success NZC outcome
  • providing an insight into government priorities like ‘Levelling Up’ and delivering NZC schools.

There will also be a roundtable discussion as well as main stage and breakout sessions.

Ticket prices start at £50+VAT.

Find out more and book your ticket

Webinar – Social Value, Technology and Good Practice

We are also running a series of webinars. Join Dan Heffernan, Social Value Lead at Faithful+Gould to understand how social value has been embedded across their organisation, and how through the use of innovative technologies and practices, they are able to positively impact lives and ensure local people remain at the heart of their projects.
Find out more and register

SPACES Awards and Yearbook 2023/24 – update

SPACES awards 2023 - award winners from last year

After much deliberation, the SPACES Chair and Award Panel have decided that due to the number of submissions following the effects of Covid on the construction industry, that the submission process is going to stay open for another eleven months and we will have joint 2023/24 yearbook and award ceremony.

As part of this extension we will be transforming a number of our member’s projects into case studies and adding them onto our website and other forms of social media throughout the year. Showcasing the fabulous projects that those working in and for the Public Sector deliver.

New Submission Deadline: Friday 5th January 2024.

This is a great opportunity to showcase any public funded project and an opportunity to win a national award!

Not just for schools, any building or space, large or small, new build, refurbishment or extension which has received an element of public funding is eligible!

Our yearbook and awards are not just about the building but considers many other factors including the impact it’s had on the community, environmental benefits, an outstanding collaborative approach, etc. The public sector, working in collaboration with the private sector, delivers some amazing projects which deserve wider recognition.

So if you have a project that you are proud of you can submit a project to this year’s Awards and Yearbook for free.

Submissions are invited nationally and can include:

    • New building and refurbishment projects across the public sector
    • Buildings that add value to the communities they serve
    • Buildings from all sectors of public construction
    • Projects that demonstrate collaboration
    • Projects that demonstrate Engineering excellence/ingenuity
    • Surveying projects that renew embedded value
    • Examples of construction team excellence
    • Articles of interest on public sector buildings

Anyone can make a submission whether you are the client, architect, contractor, engineer, surveyor or project manager who feels there is merit in a particular building or project.

Before submitting your project, please read the accompanying Submission Guidance (you can collate information using this editable Data Collection Sheet).

You can submit your project here!

From these a shortlist will be made of those projects that are eligible to enter the Civic Building of the Year Awards.

Please note:

  • Schemes must have been completed and be operational between 1st October 2021 and 31st October 2023.
  • They must also have received an element of public funding to aid their delivery.
  • There is no limit to the number of submissions per client/organisation.
  • It is free to submit your project.
  • Anyone involved in the scheme can submit an application.
  • In addition, you must upload a minimum of 3 photographs up to 5 photographs and up to 5 pieces of supporting documentation. (including site plan and floor plan(s) and can also include project data sheets, brochures, case studies, videos).
  • See guidance note for further information. SPACES reserves the right to exclude projects that do not adhere to the guidance.

A shortlist of projects for the yearbook and awards will be produced during January 2024. Subsequent information and access for visits may be required. If SPACES does not receive a response within 6 weeks we reserve the right to remove the project from the yearbook and/or awards process.

New Submission Deadline: Friday 5th January 2024.

For other ways to be involved with the awards and yearbook, please see our website.

You can view a copy of the 2022 Yearbook and last year’s award winners.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

You can submit your project here!