BDP wins twice at BCO Awards

BDP won twice at this year’s British Council for Offices Awards announced on 05 October at the National Awards Dinner at the Grosvenor House in London.

The fit-out for PricewaterhouseCoopers at 141 Bothwell Street, Glasgow was national winner of the Fit-out of Workplace Award, and West Lothian Civic Centre, Livingston was winner of the National Innovation Award. Presented by actor and trained designer Ronni Ancona, the awards are considered to be one of the most prestigious events in the corporate real estate calendar attracting over 1,000 key players in the office industry sector.

Of the PwC project the judges said: “This year’s national winner of the Fit-out of Workplace Award is a quality fit-out that betrays no signs of opulence or financial exuberance and outstanding value for money.

Fundamental to any successful fit-out is the new environment’s ability to contribute to the well-being and productivity of the workforce. It was clear to the judges that BDP’s fit-out fully met these criteria. PwCs’ fit-out illustrates a keen understanding of its corporate and staff needs and displays its sophistication as a client. The accurate delivery of the client’s brief by the professional team has brought the entire project together.”

Awarding West Lothian Civic Centre the National Innovation Award, the judges said:  “This new home for public sector services in West Lothian accomplishes two significant achievements: providing an impressive and aesthetically pleasing building that betrays none of the traditional dourness or conformity of the customary public sector edifice, and innovatively combining a number of hitherto separate public services in one dynamic modern and efficient building.” All entries are considered automatically for the Innovation Award as part of the assessment process with the regional judges nominating entries from their region to be put forward.

About the projects:

BDP’s £1.1m BREEAM Excellent fit-out for PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Glasgow workplace continues to advance their approach to innovative flexible and connected working practices. BDP was inspired by Glasgow’s environs and rich heritage when designing the workspace. At the heart of the scheme were exhibition and event spaces, featuring art and photography specially commissioned from local artists, resulting in a vibrant, inclusive space for staff, clients and the local community. Anne Muirhead, of PwC Future Working Environment Team, said: “The success of this project is a testimony to close, joint and effective working”.

West Lothian Civic Centre brings together three public-sector partner organisations in a single building with the aim of promoting joined-up services for the residents of West Lothian.  The Centre was required to appear as a single, unified building and BDP’s design satisfies this objective whilst formally articulating the principle elements of accommodation to break-down the scale of this large and complex building, and make it legible to visitors.  Open-plan offices, shared between the partners, form the major part of the Centre and BDP’s solution incorporates a linear glazed atrium topped with ‘lanterns’ that both drive natural stack ventilation within the offices, and create a landmark.  The Centre also houses a Police Divisional HQ, a Justice Centre, a Council Chamber, and a public atrium providing a generous Civic Space for reception, entertaining and civic ceremonies.  The Chairman of the BCO Judges stated that BDP’s project had been selected to represent the Scottish Region in the National Awards, as the judges were “impressed by the integration of such high quality sustainable office space in a complex mixed-use centre, designed to support partnership working, which should be seen as a prototype for all public sector offices.”