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Durrell’s New Visitor Centre Wins Two Architectural Awards

11^th October 2011

The new Durrell Visitor Centre based at the conservation charity’s headquarters in Trinity, Jersey has won two important architectural awards. The stunning new development was voted ‘Jersey’s Best innovative and/or Sustainable Design of 2011’, and also topped the category of ‘Project with the best Landscape Architecture’.

The judging panel of Jersey’s Architecture Awards praised the building for the range of innovative features employed to make the building as ‘green’ as possible. Commenting on the landscaping the judges said the “subtle design had integrated into, and complemented the area generally.”

Durrell Chief Executive Paul Masterton said: ‘This is a vital development for the Trust. The design provides a strong visible impression and the new facilities have enhanced our ability to deliver a top flight visitor experience. My personal congratulations go to our excellent Durrell landscape team for this well deserved award and also to the internal committee that helped drive this project.’.

One of the judges, David Cox, Architect and Advisor to Jersey’s former Environment Minister, Freddie Cohen, pointed out that the Visitor Centre was also highly commended in the category for the ‘Best Large Scale Refurbishment or Remodelling of a Building’, and was the runner up in the ’People’s Choice, category for the public’s favourite building of the year.

Designed by Ray Hole Architects in association with local architectural firm Axis Mason, the re-modeled facility provides a vastly improved admissions centre and retail area together with a cafe for seating for 140 people along with a separate garden centre. There are also improved educational facilities, an outdoor dining terrace and a flexible exhibition space. The development has exceptionally strong sustainability credentials and is the main gateway for the 150,000+ annual visitors to Jersey’s iconic wildlife park.

Some of the existing Visitor Centre was been incorporated into the new design and, where sections were demolished, more than 70% of the materials were then recycled.

In line with Durrell’s sustainability ethos, sun-pipes were introduced to provide natural lighting and Monodraught ‘wind catchers’ have been installed in the roof to assist with natural ventilation. The new building is also fitted with low energy LED lights, solar panels provide hot water and an air source heat pump has been installed to heat the building. A sophisticated control system means that – whenever possible natural lighting and ventilation will be used. All this means that despite almost doubling in size, the energy consumption of the new building will not increase.

The design team also used recycled materials to create the main light fittings, chairs and tables.

The development was project and cost managed by Rowney Sharman Project Consultants, who worked with the Durrell team to deliver the project on budget, to an exceptionally tight programme. The main contractor was locally-based Camerons, the structural engineers were Rothwells and the M&E engineers were Jersey Energy.

The States of Jersey Fiscal Stimulus Fund allocated £1.5 million towards the cost of the new centre, with matching funds from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

 

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