Issue 48 AUG 25 web - Flipbook - Page 64
Class of ’25 sets the standard for
Steel Window Association Awards
Building on the success of an inaugural year, the Steel Window Association added two new categories
for its 2025 Awards, presented at the AGM in County Hall, London, bringing the number of awards
to five: Domestic Project of the Year, Commercial Project of the Year, Refurbishment Project of the
Year, Associated Award and Supplier of the Year. The Technical Editor for Architecture Today, John
Ramshaw, was again invited to judge the awards.
The projects were assessed in terms of their architectural
attributes, technical excellence, attention to detail, and
collaboration with the client/architect. John Ramshaw
commented: “Once again, I was highly impressed by the
quality and diversity of the schemes submitted. As ever,
the stronger contenders stood out on closer inspection,
and after further deliberation and analysis clear winners
emerged in each category.”
Announcing the winner of the Domestic Project of the
Year, involving the extension and refurbishment of a
Grade II listed, Wiltshire farmhouse, John described how
it had involved: “A cohesive three-fold strategy from The
Cotswold Casement Company. First, the large yet sympathetically designed ground-floor extension incorporates
sleek, floor-to-ceiling steel windows and door screens,
which maximise daylight and views of the rear garden.”
John further admired the internal steel sliding doors bringing daylight into the building, while also allowing the
open-plan living space to be subdivided. He added: “The
breadth and vision of this project’s approach to using steel
windows and doors really impressed. There is a strong
sense of connection between the exterior and interior
thanks to the expert deployment and skilful design of the
steel fenestration. The internal sliding doors not only
complement the exterior screens, but also imbue the interior spaces with a sense of style and sophistication,
which extends to the hallway doors to form an integral
part of the overall design concept.”
The Commercial Project of the Year winner was named
as Len House in Maidstone, Kent, involving West Leigh.
Constructed in 1938 by Howard & Souter for Lord
Rootes, founder of the Rootes Motor Company, Len
House is a retrofitted and extended Grade
II-listed Art Deco building where West Leigh was tasked
with the like-for-like replacement of the existing
steel-framed windows, doors and structurally challenging
box mullion wind-posts.
Below, the 2025 SWA Awards winners. Pictured (L-R) are Daniel Lyons, Commercial Sales Manager at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, Andy
Bawn, MD at West Leigh, James Barrett, MD at Steel Window Fittings, Carl Fisher, Operations Manager at The Cotswold Casement
Company and Kris Bennell, Operations Director at ASWS
