Double success at CENE Awards 2025

Our commitment to collaborative working and sustainability was the driving force behind two award wins at last week’s Constructing Excellence North East Awards 2025.

Hexham General Hospital Phase Two, a project delivered by IHP, our joint venture with VINCI Building, and Riverside Multi Storey Car Park at Farringdon Row in Sunderland, delivered by Sir Robert McAlpine, both fought off stiff competition to come away with awards. 

Hexham Phase Two won the Integration & Collaborative Working award as the judges recognised how the project’s ‘one team’ vision fostered a culture of collaboration, transparency and shared accountability. 

From day one, IHP’s vision-setting workshops engaged contractors, clinical staff and estates teams in defining measurable objectives linked to patient care, sustainability and operational efficiency. 

The Trust highlighted weekly catch-up meetings and site walk-arounds as vital for proactive issue resolution, and IHP’s integration into the Hexham team strengthened trust and collaborative problem-solving. 

In summary, the judges said the entire project team ‘demonstrated exceptional collaboration across the entire supply chain’, with early stakeholder engagement and comprehensive site walkarounds ensuring patient safety and project timelines remained uncompromised. 

And the approach to procurement was noted as both prompt and fair, helping to build lasting, trust-based partnerships with SMEs. 

Meanwhile, the Riverside Multi Storey Car Park scooped Infrastructure Project of the Year, adding to an impressive list of award wins since reaching practical completion in 2023. 

Built on behalf of Sunderland City Council, the 11-level car park has a captivating design with two living walls housing more than 50,000 plants, each carefully selected for their suitability to the local climate. 

The structure also incorporates rainwater harvesting systems, solar panels, dynamic lighting, passive ventilation and sustainable urban drainage systems, all demonstrating a comprehensive and rigorous approach to carbon reduction. 

The judges commented that ‘this project places sustainability at its core, integrating a range of innovative features that reflect a deep commitment to environmental responsibility’. 

Mark Gardham, Sector Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: "I am immensely proud of our teams for their outstanding achievements at the CENE Awards 2025. The recognition of the Hexham Phase Two project for its exemplary integration and collaborative working underscores the dedication and unity of everyone involved. Similarly, the Riverside Multi Storey Car Park's accolade as Infrastructure Project of the Year highlights our unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. These awards are a testament to the exceptional quality and hard work of our teams in the North East, and I look forward to continuing our journey of excellence together." 

As regional winners, both projects will move forward to the National Constructing Excellence Awards 2025 on Saturday 15th November.