Four great Structural Award winners that exemplify the new Structural Awards

Example project

York House – Winner of the Award for Zero Carbon Ambition 2021
The refurbishment and extension of this highly deteriorated office building shows what is possible when sustainability is put at the top of the agenda. Significant low-carbon interventions complemented the extensive reuse of the existing structure.

 

People

Structural engineers usually design buildings to last for many years, and bridges for over a century, so their structures are used and enjoyed by thousands, or even millions of people.

The People attribute focuses on society, the project’s benefits to its end users, as well as the full team of people who created the project in the first place. Consider collaborative design and procurement, adding value for the client and stakeholders, or having a positive impact on communities through local upskilling.

Example project

La Reference – Winner of the Award for Sustainability 2019
Providing a new classroom to 150 students and designed to be resilient to earthquakes and hurricanes. All documentation and processes were designed to develop local understanding of structural behaviour and become educational tools for replication, ensuring a social legacy within and beyond this specific project.

 

Process

Process Sometimes the strength, innovation and beauty of a project originates from the processes undertook to create it. Structural engineers use many skills to solve problems – from basic maths to cutting-edge technology. They use novel methods to strive for efficiency: structures that use less material and require less maintenance.

The Process attribute considers high technical achievement and innovation. Influencing briefs to achieve desired outcomes, or the appreciation of craft and artistry in the final product. The project could be an example of the application of original, novel, or improved technologies and processes in the structural design, particularly where these have led to greater efficiency and economy in the solution.

Example project

West Gate Bridge Strengthening – Winner of the Supreme Award for Structural Engineering 2012
The diversity of technical, management, environmental and construction challenges faced by the team on this landmark project were simply breath-taking. Design of the strengthening of the steel bridge needed complex non-linear finite element analysis, and the work involved access to very confined spaces. Strengthening of the concrete box girders involved additional external pre-stressing cables, and extensive application of carbon fibres.

Profession

Structural engineers help create record-breaking structures, beautiful structures, useful structures and sometimes just cool structures – anything from bridges, rollercoasters and skyscrapers to hospitals, homes and public artworks. Structural engineering has a well-respected reputation thanks to thousands of years of innovative projects.

The Profession attribute considers if a project has enhanced the reputation of the structural engineering profession. The project or project team may have inspired others, or raised standards of design and execution. Disseminating knowledge gained on the project helps to advance the wider profession, and should be celebrated.

Example project

TallWood House at Brock Commons – Winner of the Award for Construction Innovation 2017
Not only the tallest mass timber building in the world at the time, but the first to utilise the two-way strength of cross-laminated timber (CLT), with the slabs supported solely by the columns, with no beams. Advanced analysis and testing was required to prove the solution, and the end result sets a new precedent for what can be achieved in mass timber.


 

Celebrate your hard work and achievement

Winning projects come in all shapes and sizes, if you feel like you’ve worked on a project that embodies one or more of the four key attributes, we’d encourage you to enter the Structural Awards.

Enter the Structural Awards