Award for flagship Science Park building

The iconic gateway building to the new Exeter Science Park has won a prestigious regional architectural award.

Eagle House, home to Eagle One, Blue Cedar Homes and the Blur Group, has been named Best Project Under 2000sqm in South West England, Thames Valley and South Wales in the British Council for Offices (BCO) regional property sector awards.

It was designed by a team from LHC’s Exeter Design Studio, led by John Baulch and Ian Noakes.

Eagle House, the three-storey building which stands at the entrance to Exeter’s new Science Park, is the headquarters of Eagle One. LHC provided architectural design and delivery, as well as landscape design and interiors. www.lhc.net

LHC Group Director John Baulch, who is based at LHC’s Design Studio in Emperor Way, Exeter, said: “Our hope for Eagle House was that it would provide office space which would set the standards for the new Science Park and beyond in terms of sustainability, flexibility, cost and quality.

“We believe that Eagle House is an exemplary project which reflects the values of its occupiers. It is very satisfying that it is now being recognised as a fitting flagship for the Science Park.”
John Wright, chairman of the BCO judges, said: “Eagle House is an excellent project which responds to the values of the occupier whilst still achieving a flexible and sustainable office that would suit many organisations.”

BCO chief executive Richard Kauntze said: “Eagle House is a truly unique development with a design that should encourage science-based start-ups and nurture local skills well into the future.”

Eagle House, which was completed at the end of 2013, has already won the award for Commercial Project of the Year with a Value Under £5m at the Michelmores and Western Morning News 2014 Property Awards. LHC have also previously won architectural awards with the INTO Centre at the University of Exeter and the South Devon College University Centre.

Eagle House will now go forward to the national BCO awards, the winners of which will be announced in October.