The team at Classic Group is celebrating the results of the recently announced Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards for 2020.

Tauranga featured strongly in the award results with winners including The Lakes New Shoots Children's centre, which was designed by Copeland Associates and was a Classic Developments and CBC Construction project.

The building was described by the judges as a 'progressive and human solution to an institutional brief”.

The centre was one of two winners in the education category – the other win went to The University of Waikato Tauranga CBD campus.

Classic Developments commercial projects manager Damian Pootjes says the award was a great result for the project team.

Completed in October last year, Damian describes the early childhood education centre as a celebration of impressive design and excellent workmanship.

'Ultimately you don't get an award-winning building without everyone involved taking pride and ownership."

The project involved a great deal of effort and attention to detail, he says, with eye-catching special features including the exposed laminated timber and exposed fixing plates and hardware in the roof structure, and the verandah's sloping pilaster detailing.

The judges acknowledged the building's strong, sheltering roof. That, combined with a dynamic timber structure, creates a stimulating learning space, they say.

'Shelter, sunlight, air, tactile materials and a child-friendly environment are sensitively considered throughout."

Centre director Amy Dyer is delighted with the result.

'The centre has an amazing warm, welcoming and homely feel to it. The natural wood, large windows and doors paired with the covered outdoor deck connect us beautifully to our outside environment.

"This creates harmony and aesthetically pleasing spaces for our children to freely play, explore and learn."

Damian says the Copeland Associates and Classic Developments/CBC Construction team has united again to create another early childhood centre – this time in Hunua Views, Drury.

CBC Construction director Drew Beekie describes The Lakes New Shoots Children's centre as 'a special building” and is not surprised the architectural award judges also recognised this.

Classic Developments and CBC Construction have featured numerous times over the years on the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Architecture Awards winning list.