Gallery: British Council for Offices announces winners of national awards

Sunderland City Hall was celebrated as ‘Best of the Best’ at the British Council for Offices’ (BCO) National Awards at the Grosvenor House hotel in London last night, also taking home the ‘Corporate Workplace’ award. The office was joined by six other award winners recognised as leading examples of excellence in office space across the UK. The BCO’s National Awards programme claims to recognises top quality office design and functionality and says it sets the standard for excellence across the office sector.

Judges praised Sunderland City Hall, designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects for Sunderland City Council, as an ambitious and transformative project that will be the catalyst for creating a new commercial district and rejuvenating the wider city. “It delivers an exceptional building which embraces the heritage of Sunderland whilst offering a contemporary and welcoming environment for the diverse community who use the building,” the judges said of how City Hall demonstrates how the public sector can drive positive change, restore pride and stimulate growth. “The vision and design quality are aspirational whilst remaining accessible and welcoming to all which is a huge achievement.” It is the creative commercial structuring coupled with outstanding social impact that makes this project a worthy winner.

The full list of winners is:

• ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘Corporate Workplace’: Sunderland City Hall, Sunderland
• ‘Commercial workplace’: 80 Charlotte Street, London
• ‘Refurbished/ Recycled Workplace’: FORGE, Woking
• ‘Innovation’: Cadworks, Glasgow
• ‘Fit Out of Workplace’: Dojo, The Brunel Building, London
• ‘Projects up to 1,500m²’: Bicester Eco-Business Centre, Elmsbrook
• ‘Test of Time’: The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich

Derwent London’s 80 Charlotte Street in the heart of London’s Fitzrovia combines 320,000 sq ft of commercial office space with 55 new apartments, a new café and restaurant which serves both the local community and occupiers of the new building. Designed by Make Architects, the integrated architectural and engineering approach to the design of the development delivers a building which is BREEAM Excellent and is net zero carbon in operation. The judges were impressed by the quality of the landlord areas, and with the hybrid workspace, bar and roof top terrace.

FORGE by Hawkins\Brown for V7 was acknowledged by judges as “a clever and thoughtful intervention that maximised its opportunity”. Attention was focussed in the areas that would have the biggest impact to the users of the building and therefore will make a meaningful difference to tenant, landlord and the local area. Under-utilised areas such as the reception, carparking, the atrium and plant rooms have all been reimagined, maximising useable space within the building, and creating new office and amenity spaces. It is evident that sustainability, technology, future proofing to ensure relevance of design, value for money and user experience were at the heart of all decision making.

FORE Partnership’s Cadworks is one of the most sustainable and innovative office buildings in Scotland and the first Net Zero Carbon building in operation in Glasgow. Judges were impressed by how the all-electric building combines smart technology, occupier wellbeing, along with significant carbon reduction. The building features Scotland’s first cycle-in access ramp with high quality facilities and Glasgow’s first “shell and floor” finish to prevent waste. Occupiers have a series of turnkey packages to layer smart building technology to improve the utilisation, visibility and the health of their workspace, all via a smart phone app.

Bicester Eco Business Centre

Dojo, by BDG architecture + design, won the judges over with how it is designed for its people and culture. This fit out sensitively builds on the base build architecture and has a warm, domestic feel to the interior, finishes and settings. Flexibility is a core design principle, team areas are reconfigurable, with a family of moveable furniture elements in support of their agile work processes. A dynamic accommodation stair connects floors through a social hub.

In a time of climate emergency, judges said the Bicester Eco Business Centre provides proof that we have the tools to meet the 2030 carbon targets. Achieving zero carbon in operation, as well as Passivhaus Plus and BREEAM Outstanding, judges said the building by Architype for Cherwell District Council is as forward thinking as it is high achieving. The first Passivhaus Plus office in the UK, it takes the principles of quality, comfort, and sustainability standards to provide an exemplar workplace providing a mix of co working and private office space.

“The Enterprise Centre is a celebration of sustainability, nature, innovation and collaboration,” this year’s judges said of the BREEAM Outstanding Passive House building that featured at COP26. The use of locally sourced natural materials, fresh air and natural ventilation, daylighting and stable temperatures leads to enhanced quality, as well as creating an excellent environment for health and wellbeing. The operational performance of the building was closely monitored over three years with extensive occupier feedback and engagement to tweak and improve the building performance. The centre, designed by Architype for the University of East Anglia acts as an incubator space for local start-up businesses.

Highly commended projects included The HALO Enterprise & Innovation Centre, Kilmarnock and Plumtree Court, London for ‘Corporate Workplace’ and Two New Bailey Square, Salford for ‘Commercial Workplace’.

Tony Hordon, Managing Director of Parabola and Chair of the BCO’s National Judging Panel, commented: “Evaluating the exceptional nominees for this year’s BCO National Awards has been a wonderful reminder of the quality, world class design and innovation that our industry stands for. The winners have set new standards for the next generation of offices and will serve as an inspiration for others. Congratulations to all of the teams involved.”

Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, added: “The BCO National Awards once again saw industry professionals come together to celebrate best-in class office design. As well as commercial excellence, this year’s winners have demonstrated impressive achievements of purpose, putting sustainability and social impact at the centre of their designs.”