Architects Cox Freeman help create a multi-use church in Ripley

Nottingham-based architects Cox Freeman have helped a Derbyshire church become a hub of activity after managing a complete rebuild of the community facility.

The £595,000 project for Ripley Methodist Church involved demolishing the existing Victorian building and creating a new church and multi-purpose community centre.

The two-storey facility has now been officially opened and is home to a string of community groups for all ages, as well as the church congregation.

“We are delighted to hear that Ripley Methodist Church has become such an important focus in the community,” said Chris Boffin, managing director of Cox Freeman, based in Stoney Street, The Lace Market. “This has been the third church project that Cox Freeman has been involved in, and one that gave us immense pride to work on.”

Using plans originally drawn up by the Nottingham-based Howitt Partnership, Cox Freeman oversaw the project from tender to completion.

“It was a difficult site access wise, as the church was down a narrow road, surrounded by houses, but the project went very smoothly and we are very pleased to have been a part of it. It gives us great satisfaction to be involved in community schemes such as this, which are becoming something of a speciality for us,” added Chris Boffin.

Ripley Methodist Church bookings secretary Brian Rose said a wide range of community groups were now using the church, including a mother and toddler group, a friendship circle for retired people, and exercise and slimming groups. It was also being used for bingo sessions, demonstration evenings and parties - with bookings already being made as far in advance as October.

“We are very pleased with the building, which is being used by several different community groups and is being booked by a number of different agencies and organisations,” said Brian.

The project, which has been the result of several years of planning and consultation between the church and existing and potential users of the building, has created 366m² of space on the ground floor and 58m² of space on the first floor.

Facilities at the Wood Street church include a community hall, rooms and a modern kitchen.

Nottingham architects Cox Freeman turn the spotlight on energy-saving buildings

Nottingham architects Cox Freeman are highlighting how food and drink firms can save money and reduce their environmental impact through the latest building designs while the company exhibits at Food & Drink Expo 2010 this week.

At the trade show, Cox Freeman are turning the spotlight on ways that firms in the sector can incorporate energy-saving devices and designs into new and existing buildings, which will ultimately make them more energy efficient and create significant savings in fuel bills.

All non-domestic buildings will need a net zero CO₂ rating by 2019 – and now is the time to plan ahead, says Cox Freeman director Alan McCall.

“High levels of energy consumption in the food industry means that significant savings in annual fuel bills can be realised by using renewable and low carbon energy initiatives in conjunction with intelligent building design,” said Alan.

“High initial capital costs and long payback periods have previously discouraged their inclusion within building budgets but increasing levels of uptake mean that costs are continuing to fall, and this is the message that we aim to get across during Food & Drink Expo 2010.”

Cox Freeman is one of more than 600 firms exhibiting at Food & Drink Expo 2010, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from March 21st to 24th. It is the largest UK food and drink trade exhibition - bringing together all sectors of the food and drink market, including retail, foodservice, wholesale and manufacturing, as well as associated industries.

Cox Freeman, based in Stoney Street, Nottingham, is an architectural practice specialising in the design of food production facilities and has worked for leading names in the industry, including Heinz, Dairy Crest, Sun Valley Foods and Melton Foods. The firm designed the units at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, which opened in 2005 and was the UK’s first food business park with a dedicated on-site business centre.

“Food & Drink Expo 2010 is the perfect opportunity for Cox Freeman to explain to food processors and producers looking to invest in new buildings how the inclusion of energy-saving solutions and the careful consideration of building orientation and site layout are important when planning new facilities,” said Alan.

“Cox Freeman are committed to the incorporation of renewable and low carbon energy solutions into all of their buildings in the food sector, and to finding effective architectural solutions to complement and enhance energy initiatives.

“Whether the most appropriate energy solution involves the inclusion of waste to energy plant, energy reclamation from fridge plant, ground source heat pumps for simultaneous heating and cooling, combined heat and power plant, photovoltaics, wind turbines or biofuels, the design of a building can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.”

Cox Freeman is at stand N168 at Food & Drink Expo 2010.