Waterman Aspen (Waterman’s specialist secondment services operation) is delighted that the project team involved with the restoration of West Gate in Warwick scooped two prizes at the ICE West Midlands Awards 2020.
The scheme won the Heritage Award for being an excellent example of an historic structure being sympathetically and sustainably restored, and the Communication Award for the project’s sensitive forward planning and reduction of disruptions.
West Gate is a Grade I-listed stone archway dating back to the 12th Century. Located on Warwick High Street, the structure was one of three gates through Warwick’s medieval town wall. The repair and restoration of the structure’s heavily eroded masonry was undertaken to maintain a safe pedestrian route and preserve an important part of Warwick’s heritage.
The scheme combined modern and traditional technologies in the planning and construction phases and involved replacing or refacing over 400 sandstone blocks, extensive re-pointing and the reconstruction of the archway’s tierceron vault. All this was achieved while maintaining pedestrian access and minimising traffic disruption in the busy town centre location.
West Gate’s historical significance required extensive stakeholder consultation and community engagement throughout the project which culminated in children from West Gate Primary School placing a time capsule in the floor above the tierceron vault to mark the completion of the works.
Well done to all the key people involved from Warwickshire County Council, Waterman Aspen, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Croft BC Ltd and Mark Evans Architects!
