Sue Emms wins Architect of the Year award

Sue Emms, architect director in BDP’s Manchester studio, has won the Architect of the Year category at this year’s Women in Construction Awards. The awards were announced on 26 March at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Gavin Elliott, chair of BDP’s Manchester studio, said: “Having worked with Sue over many years, I can personally attest to what an incredible talent she is. She is a great designer, fantastic communicator, and an inspiration to everyone who works with and for her. To this day construction remains a very male dominated industry, so it takes a woman of very special talents to rise above this and succeed. Sue is undoubtedly that person, and this award is richly deserved”

Sue has worked for BDP since graduating from Sheffield University in 1999, and is now the practice’s education sector advisor for northern England and a recognised figure in the industry.

Sue has been the project lead on the past two winning schemes for BDP’s GGB Award; unprecedented in BDP’s history. The award is given in honour of BDP’s founder Professor Sir George Grenfell Baines and is presented annually to the winning team who have completed a project of outstanding design quality which creates an uplifting inspiring place for people. The project must have won acclaim from the client and user, and should reflect the benefits of interdisciplinary working. Sue’s two winning schemes, Enterprise South Liverpool Academy and St John Bosco Arts College, both in Liverpool, are eye-catching education projects on tight and demanding budgets.