News
Northumbria University Student Prize
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Building Services Engineering at Northumbria University, of which Chairman Peter Rolton is a proud alumnus, Rolton Group has offered a prize of £1,500 to the student who submitted the best built environment renewable / low carbon integration project as part of the University’s Level 6 and 7 Degree Show, which featured over 55 current students' design project work from both BEng (Hons) and Master’s level projects.
The award was given to Stephen Hargreaves (pictured above with Peter Rolton), who demonstrated the best and most innovative example of how low carbon and renewable technology could be integrated within a design, in this case a fictionalised international banking headquarters. The bank had an intensive IT requirement and was optimised to reduce energy usage, and Stephen’s project showed clear progression from the initial concept through to detailed design, thermal modelling and the inclusion of low carbon initiatives.
Peter Rolton said of Stephen’s work: ‘this outstanding design shows a depth of lateral thought that has been executed to a very high standard, and is exactly what we need to see when creating the buildings and landscapes of tomorrow.’
Rolton Group will continue to award this prize on an annual basis, encouraging students to consider the business case for low carbon technology as part and parcel of engineering. In addition, Peter Rolton will be travelling back up to the University in the next academic year to deliver a seminar on the commercial applications of engineering, and what the practicalities of design mean for the future of the industry.
Jess Tindall, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering and Environment, offered his thanks to Rolton Group: ‘The Architectural Engineering / Building Services Engineering team at Northumbria University are very grateful to Rolton Group for sponsoring an annual prize designed to inspire our students to push the boundaries of innovative engineering solutions whilst maintaining a strong commercial and societal awareness. These are key qualities that we aim to develop in all our MEng graduates and we value Peter Rolton’s support and input to assist us in achieving our goal.
"We are always delighted when alumni contact us looking for ways to support the programme that previously helped them to launch their careers. Support, like this prize from Rolton Group, demonstrates to current and prospective students the input and good will that we receive from the industry that we serve. Being able to combine the first award of the Rolton Prize with the celebration of 50 years of Building Services Education at Northumbria University was particularly special and memorable."