Science Central in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, has been presented with a CEEQUAL ‘Excellent’ design award at the Institution of Civil Engineers awards dinner.

The project, which is being delivered by Newcastle Science City1, achieved a score of 77.3% for improving sustainability in civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and public realm. Mott MacDonald is lead designer for phase one infrastructure.

Located on the former Scottish & Newcastle Brewery site in the centre of the city, the 24-acre mixed-use development will create new urban quarter which will become an exemplar in sustainability. It will also seek to attract leading edge scientific organisations to a new mixed community, encompassing a variety of educational, business and residential uses.

It will include retail and residential space alongside state-of-the-art office and business incubator space.Sustainability features of the project include a living green wall, rainwater harvesting, low energy LED lighting, regular community liaison and the design of high-quality public realm works that will encourage pedestrian use throughout the entire site.

Speaking of the win, Fiona Standfield, director of Newcastle Science City said: “We are delighted that Science Central has achieved this award for sustainability and would like to thank Mott MacDonald for providing the civil, structural, environmental and building engineering services for this phase of the development.”

Mott MacDonald project manager Simon Longshaw said: “The designed infrastructure for phase one integrated sustainability from the outset to meet the practical ambitions of the partnership delivering Science Central. We were able to do this within the project’s budget, and are very pleased to accept this award alongside the Science Central project team.”

The first building on Science Central, The Core, is currently under construction and is due to open for business this autumn with a further £50 million investment from Newcastle University to open a second building on site in 2017.

published on: 7 May 2014