In 2020, Groundwork worked with local charity Start Creative in Salford to develop a sustainable building design for what would become ‘The Meeting Place’.
As a small charity who requires external support to fund and maintain Trafford Ecology Park, our idea was to create a space which could be hired out to help provide funding to support the parks wider management plan. But we didn’t want to create just anything, the building needed to be a beacon for sustainable construction which would inspire all those who visited in.
The idea was made a reality thanks to Start Creative and our corporate sponsors; Mace Construction Ltd, BWP, Tree Station, ERM and S+B.
Key features of the meeting space included:
- A wooden frame design with natural thermal insulating properties
- Locally sourced timber from social enterprise The Tree Station or sourced directly from Trafford Ecology Park.
- Roof tiles made from recycled plastic.
- Rainwater harvesting system installed; storing and reusing rainwater instead of allowing run-off. Energy generated from solar panels on the roof.
Sustainability through and through
At Groundwork not only do we believe building sustainably but we also believe in eating responsibly! For that reason, our recommended catering supplier is Open Kitchen Catering; a local business with a commitment to producing food in the most sustainable and ethical way possible.
