Sustainable lodge building successfully handed over to the Scouts

Tuesday 26, January 2010

ISG Jackson Special Projects has successfully completed a £1 million project for the Scout Association to build a highly sustainable accommodation lodge within the grounds of Gilwell Park in Chingford. Peter Harrison Lodge is the latest addition to expanding facilities at the spiritual home of the scouting movement and provides high quality accommodation for visitors to the 108 acre parkland estate.

Designed to complement its natural surroundings, the new lodge is located within a wooded area of the estate and constructed from a sustainable timber frame, incorporating large areas of glazing to enhance the volume of natural light entering the building. The use of high performance insulation materials and efficient mechanical and electrical services will minimise the impact of the new building within its environment and help reduce overall running costs.

Providing overnight accommodation for guests within 15 individual rooms, Peter Harrison Lodge also boasts drying rooms, showers, catering amenities and a large open plan activity space. Visitors staying in the new facilities will be able to take advantage of the Association’s drive to encourage more young people to take part in adventure based activities including, climbing, zorbing, high ropes and a 3G swing. The estate also offers conference facilities and is an outdoor activities centre hosting team building and other corporate events.

Simon Carter, assistant director of the Scout Association, explained: “This new building further expands our capacity to deliver adventure based activities to young people. Having such a well designed and functional accommodation block means that Scouts and their Leaders can relax in comfort after a hard days climbing, canoeing, orienteering, grass sledging and zorbing”

Stuart Talbot, divisional director for ISG Jackson Special Projects, commented: “For the Scout Association, Peter Harrison Lodge not only represents a major investment in its facilities at Gilwell Park, but is also a reflection of the organisation itself, its goals and aspirations. Environmental awareness lies at the heart of the movement and the new facility incorporates some of the very latest thinking in sustainable design, within a building that sits sensitively within its immediate surroundings.”