BDP Scoop RICS Sustainability Prize

Cardiff Central Library, designed by BDP, won the sustainability category in the RICS Wales Awards on 21 May. The awards, dubbed the ‘Property Oscars’, celebrate the best new projects in the built environment and consist of four categories: building conservation, regeneration, sustainability and community benefit.  The library scooped the award from a record number of entries, and against particularly strong competition.

For Cardiff Central Library a sustainable design was enabled by a client with a vision, and was designed from the outset to incorporate sustainable construction principles. The library was built as part of the retail-led St David’s development, with green features including a sedum grass roof, light motion detectors, water-saving devices and a system which monitors each floor’s energy usage. The library achieved the highest ever awarded Bespoke BREEAM post construction review score for minimal extra cost.

The judges said of the winning building “This building is an inspiration to the staff and library users and is a model of best practice for developments in the future.  An outstanding facility wholly deserving the sustainability award.”

Sustainability consultant Belinda McGahey, of architects BDP, said: “We are very excited about this award and proud to receive it. The library is a wonderful building and excelled our sustainable expectations. Its energy performance is great and it has a focus on resource efficiency in design and operation. This award confirms that this is an exemplar building and heralds the future for community facilities.”

Cardiff Central Library will now go forward to compete with entrants from across the world at the Global RICS Awards in October 2010.