AN architecture company has won a prestigious industry award for its project in the Bradford district.

Darnton B3, the company which designed Airedale International Air Conditioning’s new building in Rawdon, picked up the regional ‘Design Through Innovation’ category at the recent Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors awards.

Following a major fire in September 2013 which destroyed the business’ factory, the facility required a complete demolition and rebuild, with minimal disruption to the business.

The new £40 million, 23,000 square metre project took 64 weeks to complete, and has resulted in a new state-of-the-art facility, which includes the manufacturing plant, offices, and an industry leading research and development laboratory, which can provide robust testing to the company’s products.

Judges at the RICS awards praised Darnton B3 for allowing “Yorkshire’s premier manufacturers to continue to lead the world market in their industry” through its work.

It was also praised for using off-site manufacturing which helped to cut the construction time.

Tony Cole, managing director at Airedale International, said: “By working with Darnton B3 and BAM Construction, we have a class-leading facility which is reflective of our ethos of innovation, performance and efficiency.

“Rated as BREEAM ‘Very Good’ the site is sustainable and sympathetic to the surrounding region.

“It allows us to continue to grow business operations at home and abroad. It also promotes employee wellbeing, flooding spaces with natural daylight and stunning views.

“The project has taken a lot of effort from everyone involved. Darnton B3 created an excellent project team and understood our ‘hands on’ style throughout.

“They brought peace of mind from day one and have delivered a facility where we can conceptualise, produce, innovate, and inspire. We are delighted the project is getting the recognition it deserves.”

Keith Hardcastle, director at Darnton B3 added, “The facility reflects future thinking in terms of innovative production, process, research and office design. We are very proud.”

Airedale and Darnton B3 will now compete with winners from 11 other regions at the RICS Awards final in London on Thursday, November 2.