iConic eco-building shapes up
The first stage of Daventry’s award-winning "eco centre" has been completed. The timber frame of the £8.5m iCon project has been constructed and the centre is due to open in summer 2011.
The 40,000 sq ft centre will provide accommodation for up to 60 businesses in the market of sustainable construction as well as on-site support and advice from the Sustainable Construction iNet and Construction Futures. A 300-seat conference centre will also feature in the building.
The iCon, which is to use renewable energy throughout, has been constructed with timber because it uses five times less energy to produce than concrete and six times less than steel.
Despite not being completed, the iCon has already received two design awards including a Green Apple Award for Architecture and the Built Environment in June 2010. A Milton Keynes South Midlands Excellence Award was won in December 2010.
