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Pictured (L-R) are Daniel Lyons Commercial Sales Manager at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, Andy Bawn MD at West Leigh, James Barrett MD at Steel Window Fittings, Carl Fisher Operations Manager at The Cotswold Casement Company and Kris Bennell Operations Director at ASWS.
The winners of the second Steel Window Association (SWA) Awards have been announced at a ceremony in County Hall, London. After a successful launch in 2024, the awards, which highlight impressive residential and commercial projects incorporating steel windows, doors and screens, were developed further in 2025 with two new categories of Refurbishment Project of the Year and Supplier of the Year. Again we were delighted to welcome John Ramshaw, Technical Editor of Architecture Today, as the awards’ judge.
“The ambition and scope of the SWA Awards, which is only in its second year, is clear to see and partly reflected in new award categories added for 2025, as well as the growing interest from and increasing number of projects submitted by SWA members. This has served to further highlight the quality of members’ work and their long-term dedication to design and manufacturing excellence. Overall, the Steel Window Association should be congratulated on the continued success of the awards. The 2026 iteration will no doubt be even bigger and better!” comments John Ramshaw.
Pictured (L-R): Daniel Lyons and Sacha Aarons, of Joseph Ash Galvanizing
The association was delighted to welcome representatives of our latest member, Joseph Ash Galvanizing to the proceedings whereby Daniel Lyons and Sacha Aarons held the floor to educate the members on the intricate processes involved with galvanising and powder coating steel windows.
And then it was on to the awards. Here’s a roundup of the winners.
Pictured (L-R): John Ramshaw and Andy Bawn, Managing Director of West Leigh
West Leigh won Commercial Project of the Year with Len House in Kent. “West Leigh has brought its extensive knowledge and light-touch approach to bear on an architecturally significant building, helping to preserve it for future generations, while also ensuring it meets modern performance standards. The company’s superior technical ability and rigour is not only evidenced in the breadth and variety of the window and door specification, but also in its approach to refurbishing the wind posts on the River Len elevation. The result is a highly convincing project that seamlessly knits both new and old elements together. A deserving winner.” John Ramshaw.
Pictured (L-R): John Ramshaw and Kris Bennell, Operations Director of ASWS
ASWS won Refurbishment Project of the Year with Empress at 35 Dover Street in London. “ASWS’ meticulous approach to window refurbishment has paid dividends on this challenging and prestigious project. Its rigour and attention to detail has seen the building’s idiosyncratic turn-of the-century fenestration lovingly restored and preserved for future generations to enjoy. This has played a key role in the overall success of the scheme; the façade being dominated by large, beautifully proportioned bay windows. ASWS has also excelled in its sympathetic treatment of the ironmongery, further raising the bar of what is possible when a committed client and window refurbishment specialist work together. A convincing winner.” John Ramshaw.
Pictured (L-R): Carl Fisher, Operations Manager, Matthew Hahn, Managing Director and Shannen Rhodes, Marketing Manager, of The Cotswold Casement Company
The Cotswold Casement Company won Domestic Project of the Year for Wiltshire House. “The breadth and vision of this project’s approach to using steel windows and doors really impressed. There is a strong sense of connection between the exterior and interior thanks to the expert deployment and skilful design of the steel fenestration. The internal sliding doors not only complement the exterior screens but also imbue the interior spaces with a sense of style and sophistication. This extends to the hallway doors, which are elevated beyond mere functionality to form an integral part of the overall design concept. The Cotswold Casement Company has clearly brought a wealth of experience and expertise to this project, making it a sophisticated and worthy winner.” John Ramshaw.
Pictured (L-R): John Ramshaw and James Barrett, Managing Director at Steel Window Fittings
The Associated Award goes to Steel Window Fittings for their involvement with two winning projects this year. Steel Window Fittings supplied the ironmongery that featured in Len House, the Commercial Project of the Year winner and Wiltshire House, the Domestic Project of the Year winner. Congratulations to SWF.
Pictured (L-R): John Ramshaw and Daniel Lyons, Commercial Sales Manager of Joseph Ash Galvanizing
Joseph Ash Galvanizing won Supplier of the Year as voted for by the members. “Joseph Ash Galvanizing was nominated by Govette Windows having worked with the company for decades. Joseph Ash provides quality galvanising and powder coating for discerning customers. Darren Lloyd MD for Govette said “The team’s knowledge is exceptional, and they are always available for queries. Joseph Ash supplies products to more than one SWA steel window and door manufacturer. One of the great benefits is the collection and delivery service which means that we just have to pallet our products up and wait for them to be collected or delivered. They have a great turnaround time that is generally within a few working days.”
There will be further media material developed on the winning projects which will go into more detail.
For further information on the Steel Window Association or if you’re interested in becoming a member, please click here
Winners
Len House – Commercial Project of the Year winner
Constructed in 1938 by Howard & Souter for Lord Rootes, the founder of the Rootes Motor Company, the structure was initially referred to as The Rootes Building. Following a brief period during World War II when it produced aircraft engines and commercial vehicles, Rootes Motor Company transitioned to creating and marketing car brands like Hillman, Talbot, Scimitar, and Sunbeam.
Now named Len House, this Grade II listed property sits along the banks of the River Len. Renowned for its Art Deco architecture, the building holds both architectural and historical significance, particularly due to its rich automotive legacy.
West Leigh was tasked with the like-for-like replacement of the existing 130 steel framed windows and doors along with the replacement of the existing box mullion wind posts to the windows to the rear elevation, and the refurbishment of the existing box mullion wind posts to the River Len Elevation.
Dover Street – Refurbishment Project of the Year winner
The Empress Club, founded in Dover Street in 1897, named for the Queen-Empress herself, was even grander than the Alexandra, and boasted two drawing rooms. At one time, the Empress had 70 bedrooms available to its 2700 members.
ASWS was approached to tender for the ‘light touch refurbishment scope’ to the original steel windows.
The project itself was relatively small with just 36 windows but some of these were made of up of 18 faceted individual window sections, which meant the work required was quite considerable. We were tasked with carefully removing all the lead-based paint from the windows, which stayed in place, which allowed us to offer a clean new finish to these windows
We provided a full redecoration of the frames and replaced broken hinges and some corroded frame sections and also undertook the repairs and refurbishment of the ironmongery.
Wiltshire House – Domestic Project of the Year winner
This Grade II Listed Building showcases a distinctive squared rubble stone construction, elegantly finished with rendered surfaces and topped with a stone-tiled roof. The two-storey farmhouse originally featured a four-window main range, highlighted by four recessed cyma-moulded two-light windows on the upper level, alongside three two-light windows and one three-light window on the ground floor. A plank door, framed by a chamfered surround, is situated beneath a shallow slab porch between the left pair of windows, with a drip course elegantly positioned above the ground floor. Inside, a Tudor-arched unmoulded fireplace graces the west end of the main range.
The client sought to enhance the exterior with steel doors and screens that would harmonize with the original steel windows. They also requested internal fire doors and a sliding patio door that would match the external frames, envisioning a design where the tracking for the sliding doors would be concealed.
The steel fenestration introduces sleek lines that maximise natural light in the formal dining area. The internal secondary sliding doors further enhance the influx of natural light, and we take pride in our design of sliding doors featuring concealed head mechanisms, along with soft open and close systems. The fire door design also incorporates steel elements in the hallways, contributing to stunning uniformity throughout the project.
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