THREE projects in Suffolk have been named among the winners in the 2011 East Anglia Building Excellence Awards.

The annual contest, for developments completed within the previous year, is organised by Local Authority Building Control (LABC), and celebrates quality of design and construction undertaken with the supervision local council building control departments.

The award for Best Educational Building went to the Suffolk One complex in Ipswich, designed by Bond Bryan Architects (Southern) Ltd for Suffolk County Council and constructed by ISG Jackson, which is also based in Ipswich.

With a three-storey steel-framed glazed atrium forming the main circulation area, the building features solar water heating, rainwater collection and a ground heat recovery system, which have enabled it to achieve a “very good” BREEAM environmental rating.

The judges described it as: “A high performance structure combining quality features to create an inspirational environment for learning”.

In the Large Scale Housing Development category, the award went to Land Charter Homes and its architects Brown and Scarlett for the Abbots Gate development in Bury St Edmunds.

The project, on a brownfield site which presented a number of challenges including land contamination, involved 164 units, including a proportion of retirement homes and affordable properties.

It was praised by the judges as: “A large mixed development with impressive street scenes, overlooking open meadows, with historic characteristics and high energy performance.”

Suffolk’s third success came in the Best Domestic Extension category, where William Crees Design and Jackaman Builders were named winners for their work on a property in Graham Road, Ipswich.

The project involved the addition of a steel framework structure with laminated timber beams to create a modern family home while also restoring the fabric of the original building.

The judges described the result as: “A simple contemporary extension, sympathetic with the existing Victorian house.”

The awards were presented at a black tie dinner event, held at the Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel, Spa and Golf Club and hosted by TV presenter Wendy Hurrell.

Among the 230 guests at the event were national LABC president Mick Henman and East Anglia regional chairman Tim Bartlett.