Author: Marion Clapp

Today the team from Boast Architects and RDT Architects had the opportunity to attend the Herts & Beds Constructing Excellence Club event at the new Hertfordshire Constabulary HQ in Welwyn Garden City, held in association with RIBA East Region. A huge thank you to Stephen Chown at Vincent + Gorbing for organising such an insightful event, and to Willmott Dixon for giving us a guided tour of this extraordinary building as it approaches practical completion. It was a valuable chance to experience the building before occupation, and to see first-hand the quality of the design, the impressive facilities and the careful thinking that has gone into creating a modern, functional and future-focused headquarters for Hertfordshire Constabulary. Events like this are a brilliant reminder of the value of collaboration across our industry, bringing architects, contractors, consultants and construction professionals together to share knowledge and learn from live projects. #RDTArchitects #BoastArchitects #ConstructingExcellence #RIBAEast #HertsBedsCEClub #HertfordshireConstabulary #Architecture #Construction #Collaboration #DesignExcellence

Boast Architects attended site at Highcroft in Wallingford for a walk around with our client, St. Joseph Homes, as this 100-unit residential development continues to progress. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to spend time on site, review the emerging development, and gain a deeper understanding of the house types in more detail. These site visits play an important role in supporting the technical design process, helping ensure that the next phase of homes is developed with a clear appreciation of the built context and construction requirements. Collaborative working with the client at this stage is key, allowing the design team to gather practical insight, ask questions, and feed that knowledge into the next stage of delivery. We look forward to seeing the scheme continue to take shape. #BoastArchitects #Highcroft #Wallingford #StJosephHomes #ResidentialDevelopment #HousingDesign #TechnicalDesign #Architecture #Construction #SiteVisit #NewHomes

Richard and Marion were delighted to visit One YMCA's new Peartree House in Welwyn Garden City.  A fantastic new 100 unit housing scheme, helping to create a safe and positive environment for those who need accommodation and support within the local community. The visit came about through a shared passion for beekeeping, with One YMCA asking Richard to come along and offer advice on their beehives located on the roof of the new building. Despite the less-than-perfect weather, it was a great opportunity to see the hives up close, talk through the next steps, and share practical knowledge and ideas. Richard was more than happy to help and enjoyed speaking with Heidi Cuffaro at OneYMCA about looking after the bees, including plans for a further hive and future honey collection. It was a lovely example of how community connections can grow in unexpected ways - bringing together housing, wellbeing, sustainability and a little rooftop nature. A big thank you to One YMCA for inviting us to visit Peartree House and for continuing to create positive, supportive spaces for people in our local community. We look forward to keeping in touch and seeing the rooftop bees thrive. #OneYMCA #PeartreeHouse #Community #Housing #SupportedHousing #Beekeeping #Sustainability #SocialValue #LocalCommunity #RooftopBees #HertsBeds #RDTArchitects #Collaboration #WelwynGardenCity

It was great for Boast Architects to be back on site at Wandon Park in Luton, marking our first visit since construction began on this 60-unit residential scheme for Boom Construction. The project is now moving at pace on site, with concrete foundations poured for the first row of houses in the first phase. Seeing the early stages of construction take shape is always an important milestone, giving the team the opportunity to review progress on site and stay closely connected to the delivery of the scheme. Despite being caught in a very wet downpour during the walk around, it was a valuable visit and a great chance to see the first phase progressing. We look forward to continuing our involvement as the development moves forward. #BoastArchitects #WandonPark #Luton #ResidentialDevelopment #Housing #Architecture #ConstructionProgress #SiteVisit #BoomConstruction #NewHomes

We’re delighted to announce that last month’s Star Award winner is Sabeena! Having joined us just over a month ago as an Architectural Assistant Part I, Sabeena has already made a fantastic impression on the team. Her hard work, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn have stood out from the start, and she has fitted in perfectly. Before joining Boast Architects, Sabeena gained a variety of work experience, but most recently working as a chaperone for a family taxi business. Presented by Edan, this award recognises outstanding staff achievements across the practice, and Sabeena is truly deserving of this recognition. She is a great addition to the team, and we look forward to seeing her continue to grow with us. Congratulations, Sabeena! 👏

We’re thrilled to share that Boast Architects, in association with JT Lifestyle Homes Limited, won the ‘Innovation Award’ for Robotic Bricklaying in a Live Housing Delivery at last week’s Herts & Beds Constructing Excellence Club Awards. This recognition is a fantastic celebration of the creativity, collaboration and forward-thinking that went into the project — and we’re incredibly proud to see the team’s hard work recognised. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this innovative project, and to the Herts & Beds Constructing Excellence Club for a brilliant awards ceremony celebrating excellence across our industry. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and good luck to those moving on the CE East Region Awards! #BoastArchitects #JTLifestyles #Thornley #InnovationAward #HBCECAwards #Winner #Celebrate #ConstructingExcellence #HertsAndBeds #BricklayingInnovation #ConstructionInnovation #Architecture #Collaboration #Teamwork

We’re absolutely delighted to celebrate recognition for innovation at the Thornley site, where robotics have played a key role in delivering the project alongside JT Consultancy. The use of robotic blocklaying technology on a live construction site demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to modern methods of construction, helping to improve precision, efficiency and consistency while supporting the site team. We’re proud to see this innovative approach recognised and would like to thank everyone involved in making it a success. It’s a fantastic example of how collaboration and technology can come together to push the industry forward. #InnovationAward #Robotics #Thornley #JTConsultancy #ConstructionInnovation #ModernMethodsOfConstruction #BuiltEnvironment #Architecture #ResidentialDevelopment

Boast Architects were delighted to attend the recent visit to Cranfield University to see first-hand the impressive body of work delivered by R G Carter over the last decade. Organised by Herts & Beds Constructing Excellence Club, the event was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the projects that have helped shape the campus and celebrate the strength of a long-standing partnership. A sincere thank you to R G Carter for hosting such an engaging and enjoyable visit and to being part of such a well-organised and insightful event. We are already looking forward to the HBCEC next event, their Awards Lunch at Tewinbury Farm Hotel on 11th June.

Boast Architects and RDT Architects were pleased to support the recent RIBA East Region 'Education to Practice' event at University of Hertfordshire and engage with students as they prepare for the next stage of their architectural journey. Richard gave an insightful presentation on the different career paths within our design teams and Jasmin, who is currently studying for her Part 2 through an apprenticeship with the University of Cambridge, shared her journey so far. We also heard from Vincent + Gorbing and had the opportunity to speak with students about their own journeys and view their end-of-year presentations. It was especially encouraging to see so many architects engaging with students. Thank you to Sophie Schad for organising the event, Luigi Pintacuda for helping bring it together, and Diane from Altro Limited for providing lunch. We look forward to a similar event in November and to continuing to support the next generation of architects. #Architecture #RIBAEast #EducationToPractice #UniversityOfHertfordshire #FutureArchitects

Richard always enjoys being part of the Herts County Show, and this year was no exception. Even with the heat, the turnout was fantastic, and it was great to see so many people stopping by for our talks and demonstrations. "As Chair of the St. Albans Beekeeping Assoc, I’m passionate about creating opportunities for people to learn more about bees, beekeeping, and the vital role pollinators play in our environment". "For me, events like this are all about community. I love having the chance to speak with families, answer questions, share knowledge, and hopefully inspire a bit more appreciation for the work bees do for all of us. Bringing people together, starting conversations, and making beekeeping feel accessible is a big part of why I enjoy doing this so much." A big thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such a success - especially while we were all trying to beat the heat! #HertsCountyShow #StAlbansBeekeepingAssociation #CommunityEngagement #Beekeeping #Pollinators #Hertfordshire #Events #RuralLife #CommunitySpirit #LocalHoney