Helensburgh building firm on Scottish Home Awards shortlist

Stewart and Shields is up against eight other finalists in the Small Affordable Housing Development of the Year (social rent) category in the Scottish Home Awards 2019.

Stewart and Shields, which was first set up more than 60 years ago, has been leading the construction of the new pavilion at Hermitage Park, thought to be the first non-residential building in Scotland to be constructed to the exacting Passivhaus energy-saving standards.

Passivhaus technology reduces the transfer of heat through a building's walls, floors and roof – meaning that even in winter, minimal heating is required, with most of the demand covered by 'passive' sources such as the sun (when it shines!), the building's appliances and even people inside the facility.

But it's the company's work on another Passivhaus design – the Old Carntyne Church in Glasgow's east end – that has caught the eye of the awards panel.

The project will be the first multi-storey Passivhaus development in Scotland, with 14 modified conventional built flats across five levels within the existing church and five fully certified Passivhaus flats.

The Old Carntyne Church is the first large scale church conversion for social housing in Scotland and is expected to be available for occupancy this month.

Closer to home, Stewart & Shields is also the main contractor on the construction of 10 new homes in Garelochhead – again to the Passivhaus design standard – for Argyll Community Housing Association.

A showpiece event on Thursday, June 13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow will see the winners crowned in the 12th annual ceremony recognising excellence in the housebuilding sector across the country.