The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion鈥檚 new football ground, is one of four winners in this year鈥檚 Structural Steel Design Awards. Also chosen were the聽Marks & Spencer distribution facility in Bradford; Cannon Place, London; and Antony Gormley鈥檚 26m-high 'Exposure' sculpture in the Netherlands.
The awards, now in their 43rd year, recognise excellence in structural and architectural design with the use of steel. Judges selected the four winners from a shortlist of 18.
Judges鈥� chairman David Lazenby said: 鈥淭he old saying 鈥榳hen the going gets tough, the tough get going鈥� is well聽illustrated by the entries for this year's Structural Steel Design Awards. The聽skill, imagination and determination of these project teams is remarkable,聽at a time when the steelwork industry has inevitably been affected by the聽current economic climate.鈥�
Commendations were also awarded to five structures: The St Botolph Building, London; ExCeL Phase 2; River Suir Bridge, Waterford; The Rose Bowl, Southampton; and The Hauser Forum, Cambridge.
Certificates of Merit went to the New Cross Gate Flyover, East London Line and the 2010 Festival of Speed Sculpture, Goodwood.聽
The winners聽
American Express Community Stadium, Brighton
- Architect:聽 KSS
- Structural engineer:聽 SKM (Europe) Ltd
- Steelwork contractor:聽 Watson Steel Structures Ltd (Severfield-Rowen Plc)
- Main contractor:聽 Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd
- Client: 聽Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Judges comment: This provides a long-awaited home for Brighton and Hove Albion, with community facilities. A large structure, with curving roof and main trusses, sits comfortably into the rolling South Downs.聽 The blue translucent roof shows off the well executed roof steelwork. 聽A well conceived and executed steelwork project, demonstrating close and effective cooperation in the team, bringing success for client and public.
Marks & Spencer Distribution Facility, ProLogis Park, Bradford
- Architect: 聽 Stephen George & Partners
- Structural engineer: 聽BWB Consulting
- Steelwork contractor:聽 Barrett Steel Buildings Ltd
- Main contractor:聽 聽Winvic Construction
- Client: 聽聽ProLogis Developments Ltd
Judges comment: This state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution centre, meticulously planned and designed, was erected in 12 weeks. The exterior conceals the sophistication of the engineering design, fabrication and erection for economy and speed.聽 The extremely slender columns, at wide spacing, soar upwards to support a very light curved roof, avoiding valley drainage. Rooflights allow daylight to fill the cathedral-like space. The steelwork is outstandingly light, and may well become a benchmark for such projects.聽
Cannon Place, Cannon Street Station, London
- Architect: 聽Foggo Associates
- Structural engineer:聽 Foggo Associates
- Steelwork contractor: 聽Watson Steel Structures Ltd (Severfield-Rowen Plc)
- Main contractor: 聽Laing O鈥橰ourke
- Client: 聽Hines
Judges comment: This City site has a busy rail terminus, an Underground station and extensive archaeology. The structural design has only four principal locations for foundations and supports. The facade structure is loadbearing, contributing to the support of the upper floors, onto four massive trunnion columns expressed externally. The structural concept was heroic, the appearance is striking, and the site constraints were remarkable. A huge challenge, outstandingly well answered with steelwork.
Exposure, Lelystad (Netherlands)
- Artist:聽 Antony Gormley Studio
- Structural Engineer:聽 Haskoning Nederland BV
- Steelwork Contractor:聽 Had-Fab Ltd
- Main Contractor:聽 Had-Fab Ltd
- Client: 聽Municipality of Lelystad
Judges comment: A remarkable structural steelwork sculpture inspired by the artist鈥檚 own crouching body. The immensely complex arrangement of hundreds of galvanised angle sections, precisely as required by the artist and structural designer, was fabricated in modules for transport and erection.聽 The challenge facing the steelwork contractor was enormous. This exciting work became a 鈥榣abour of love鈥� for the whole team, who have achieved a high profile tour-de-force.
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