PROJECT BACKGROUND
This new build animal retraining and re-homing project is considered “the best animal welfare centre in the world” in what is a cutting-edge, £5.25 million eco-friendly re-development for Dogs Trust–the largest dog welfare charity in the UK.
The world-beating construction project on the site of the existing Canine Rehoming Centre at Roden, near Shrewsbury, has been designed to be carbon neutral and is the first building of its kind to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and has achieved the world’s highest BREEAM post construction score of 94.44%. Innovative energy saving features have reduced energy consumption by 70 per cent over a traditional rehoming facility and the Centre has achieved an A+ rating for energy efficiency under the UK Building Regulations.
THE CHALLENGE
As the main contractor for this showcase scheme, McPhillips (Wellington) Limited invited Enviromesh to look at the design and supply elements for the retaining wing walls to either side of the intake kennels as well as connecting these via a length of balustrading along the roof’s lead edge. Key to the challenge was to ensure that the mass gravity retaining walls were designed both to retain the imposed forces from the soils as well as to introduce a suitable gabion up-stand–capable of protecting and withstanding loads from wind, grounds personnel and cutting equipment operating immediately to their rear.
Finally and in keeping with a prestigious project of this nature, attention to detail and the highest quality standards (including uniform visual aesthetics) were determined from the outset and indeed proved to be very much an enduring feature of the final completed structure.