After 26 months, members of the Mastic Asphalt Council (MAC) finally gathered at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London for the association’s AGM and awards ceremony.

Over 110 key players from across the sector attended the event which is considered one of the most prestigious in the calendar for the industry. The guest speaker was former professional footballer and Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.

MAC Award Winners - Bell AsphaltThe awards present the ideal opportunity for the Mastic Asphalt Council to honour top projects and industry contribution across the sector. Four projects were shortlisted for the Best Project Under 200m2 award, three completed by Sussex Asphalte – Carshalton Water Tower, Pacific Court Shoreham
And the Worthing Dome Cinema, and the Mayfair Private Residence carried out by Bell Asphalt.

The winning project was Bell Asphalt’s impressive mastic asphalt terrazzo flooring application at a multi-million pound private residence in London’s Mayfair. Mastic asphalt terrazzo was used for a 120m2 refurbishment of the garage floor, due to its exceptional waterproofing properties and aesthetic terrazzo finish. The judges chose this project due to the quality of the finished appearance, the precision of the works and for being unique in this day and age.

A total of six projects were shortlisted for the Best Project Over 200m2 award. These were Battersea Power Station completed by Briggs Amsco, Morrison’s Sutton carried out by Black Rock Asphalt, Swaylands House in Tonbridge completed by Infallible Systems, St Antony’s College in Oxford carried out by Howard Evans Roofing, Wellington Barracks London completed by James Roofing and Ripon Cathedral carried out by Malden Roofing.

MAC Award Winners - SPV GroupThe standard of mastic asphalt application for this category was considered so high that the judges narrowed the selection down to two outstanding projects – Battersea Power Station and St Antony’s College Oxford. Experienced mastic asphalt lecturers Alf Tufano and John Taylor from New City College Hackney were then consulted for a final decision. After much deliberation, the winning project was declared to be St Antony’s College Oxford completed by Howard Evans Roofing.

St Antony’s College forms part of the University of Oxford and the mastic asphalt project involved a total roof refurbishment extending to over 1,800m2. The building concerned was a 50-year-old, grade-II listed structure designed in 1971 by Architect John Partridge. The works were important both for the safety and longevity of the building itself, and to improve its ability to serve the college community.

The roof – which has a triangular composition with a rooflight in the middle of each triangle – had previously been protected with mastic asphalt and this had provided over 60 years’ weatherproof protection up to this point. When the roof was stripped, it became apparent that the plywood deck was in poor condition. This was replaced and a vapour barrier installed with 100mm insulation and a mastic asphalt roofing system.

Alf Tufano said: “The layout of the roof is eye-catching. The sharp arris edges, square corners and angle fillets on display are a credit to the skills of the operatives involved. Also due to the decking being renewed and the application of a new vapour barrier and insulation, the building now has improved thermal efficiency.”

MAC Award Winners - W J HorrodThe final award of the event was the prestigious Industry Award for Services to the Mastic Asphalt Industry which was awarded to W J Horrod Ltd. From its beginnings in 1948 as a repair service, Horrods is a family owned business in London which has grown to become a market leader in the manufacture of mastic asphalt equipment. Well known across the mastic asphalt sector, W J Horrod has the respect of the whole industry – whether it be manufacturers, contractors, MAC or New City College Hackney. All have been involved with W J Horrod over the years and the company has built up an enviable reputation of reliability.