And the winners are…

By Atlas

It was full-on glitz and glamour at the luxurious Vale Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan as more than 200 people gathered to salute the industry’s finest at the Atlas Installation of the Year awards.

Guests were treated to a champagne reception and three-course dinner before the awards, which were hosted by rugby union coach and sports broadcaster Sean Holley.

The panel of judges, which included the editors of Glass Times, Glass and Glazing Products and Windows Active, sifted through the winners of the Atlas Installation of the Month competition from 2016 to make a shortlist of just three finalists. The winners were announced at the ceremony on January 20.

QKS Home Improvements came first for a double Atlas lantern installation on a period property in Stamford, Lincolnshire. In second place was Farnborough-based Sherborne for an orangery installation on a re-modelled ‘New England’ style home. In third place was Cheshire-based Bifolding Door Company for a stylish Atlas Flat Rooflight installation on a property in Chester. Meanwhile, Kim Eyres, owner of Mendip Conservatories, also picked up a special gong – the Innovation Award – for a Skyroom installation with an inventive twist.

The design of an orangery with twin lanterns made the installation by QKS Home Improvements the judges’ overall favourite. The judging panel was impressed with the design that incorporated lots of glazing and two lanterns that blend the interior and the exterior.

The new orangery features two 3.7m x 2.5m Atlas lanterns, which were carefully positioned to take advantage of the southerly aspect and draw light into the ground floor.

Ashley Woodman, director of QKS Home Improvements: The standard of entries this year was extremely high and we were surprised, and delighted, to win this prestigious award. This project was absolutely stunning and this award honours the design and installation skill of the whole team that were involved in it. We have planned a fantastic year ahead and this award is a terrific start for us.”

Sherborne scooped second place for an orangery installation in Hampshire, which incorporated a grey Atlas lantern, bifolding doors, and a glass balcony. The Atlas roof met the contemporary vision of the property without compromising on the energy efficiency of the new extension.

Chris Long, managing director at Sherborne, said: “This is a really beautiful project and we just had to enter it in to the Installation of the Month competition. It was fantastic for me and the team to collect the award on the night and to celebrate the achievement in style at the after-show party. It was a brilliant night!”

In third place was the Bifolding Door Company for its installation of a large Atlas Flat Rooflight, which is the focal point in a contemporary extension on a Victorian property. The judges singled out the clever design of the roof that incorporated a 1,240mm x 1,200mm Flat Rooflight. With its ultra-slim profile, the Flat Rooflight matches the aluminium windows and bifolding doors, which were also installed by the Bifolding Door Company. The rooflight was perfect for the industrial style extension which features an exposed brick wall and polished concrete floor.

Mark Cosgrove, managing director of the Bifolding Door Company, said: “Every product in this urban installation was very carefully considered, and the Atlas Flat Rooflight – the largest we have fitted so far – was the perfect centerpiece for it. Getting in to the top three winners was an incredibly proud moment for us and we’re looking forward to a great year creating many more fabulous Atlas installations.”

Kim Eyres, owner of Mendip Conservatories, walked away with the special Atlas Innovation award for an ingenious Skyroom installation in Wells, Somerset. Kim displayed terrific design flair when creating a bespoke Skyroom with a lean-to Atlas roof. This one-off orangery style extension was the judges pick because it emphasised the versatility of the Skyroom and the bold architectural vision of Kim and his team.

Kim said: “It was a challenging project, but the finished result is outstanding. It is great working with the Atlas team and I’m proud to be a part of this exciting brand.”

Gareth Thomas, sales and marketing director at Atlas, said: “The Installation of the Year awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of the some very talented installers in our industry. We’ve been so impressed with the standard of entries this year and there are some sensational installations out there. We hope these awards will really inspire more people to stretch their design and installation skills to create even more fabulous projects in the future. This year’s event was amazing and it gives us great encouragement that next year’s awards will be even bigger.”

The evening rounded off with entertainment and a charity auction which raised £2,850 for the Spring Centre, which provides support to the families of children with disabilities and special needs across Gloucestershire.

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