BARNES ON A HIGH AFTER ANOTHER AWARD WIN
Barnes Construction has received recognition for the work carried out on the new Glasswells showroom in Ipswich.
The SAA Craftsmanship award for best alteration & extension was presented by Alan Wilkinson from the Suffolk Association of Architects to the contract team; Colin Lockwood and Chris Bruce from Barnes Construction, Melvyn Bottemley from architect's SMC Charter and Paul Glasswell, at the Suffolk Joint Consultative Committee for Buildings' annual supper.
"I never expected to give an award to a retail shed, least of all the restoration of a run down furniture warehouse on Orwell Retail Park." John Norman commented on behalf of the judges." I'd almost dismissed it as a make weight, worthy of little more than a cursory glance, so when as part of the judging process, we visited the site, we were impressed with the 'wow' factor Barnes had created."
"On reflection, it makes sense that if you are selling quality furniture, then you need to be surrounded by quality craftsmanship in the building you are selling from."
"There is a surprising amount of craftsmanship demonstrated throughout the store, the reception and the offices, café, and toilets, with the room dividers particularly worthy of note. Customers wander from one room setting to the next and the wall provides a backdrop for pictures, colour and scale, with the doorway adding a human dimension in what is otherwise a vast retail space." John added.
Paul Glasswell commented: "We'd worked with Barnes Construction several years ago at our showroom in Bury St Edmunds and knew that their work was of the highest standard. They are extremely professional, and at every stage of the building project worked closely with us to achieve the results that we wanted.
"Having an attractive building, in fact creating a landmark in this part of Ipswich, was an important part of the brief. To display home furnishings in a retail environment at their very best requires space, good lighting and clever design. We got all of this and more."
Nick Fayers, Managing Director of Barnes Construction commented, "We are delighted to have been involved in these prestigious projects and very pleased that the hard work and commitment of the whole team has been recognised and commended".
May 2009
