Three of the best

The British Council for Offices (BCO), a member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK, has been running a National Awards programme for over 30 years that aims to help set the standard for best-in-class office buildings across the sector.

Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive at the BCO explains the rationale: “One of the BCO’s primary objectives is to define excellence in office space. Our annual awards programme is a means of recognising the highest quality office spaces, both amongst peers, and by focusing public attention on the best examples of workspace. This allows those involved in office design, lettings, and management not only to benchmark excellence, but to celebrate truly innovative and inspirational spaces.”

This years’ awards ceremony included winners of the BCO Regional Awards among the attendees at Grosvenor House in London, who were hoping to take home the National Award for their category. According to Kauntze the format of the BCO Awards, whereby winners from the regions go on to compete for recognition on the national stage, ensures that excellence is recognised from across the UK. This encourages a broader perspective and avoids a London-centric view.

Says Mike Burton, Director at AECOM and Chair of the BCO’s National Judging Panel: “There is obviously a difference in land costs, construction costs and rental values across the UK. However, this has shown not to inhibit great design and outstanding projects, shown with winners in Inverness, Bristol, Stevenage and London. There are more entries that ever outside London, showing the increase in demand in our major cities for high quality office space, with great public amenity and transport links.”

BARCLAYS GLASGOW CAMPUS

According to Kauntze, this year’s overall winner of the Best of the Best Award, Barclay’s Glasgow Campus, “shines a light on one of the most impressive new spaces in Scotland. Barclays’ project illustrates the benefits that come from integrating truly considered placemaking and social initiatives into office projects.”

The Barclay campus, which won the Corporate Workplace Award and the Best of the Best title, has successfully regenerated a derelict site on the bank of the River Clyde. The judges were particularly impressed with the benefits it has delivered for both employees and the wider community through considered placemaking and social initiatives.

Burton explains that the Corporate Workplace Award is open to either a building commissioned by owner-occupiers or a joint venture between a developer and an occupier, with entries judged on the combined merits of its base build and fit out.

He says: “Barclays Glasgow Campus stood out in this category for its scale and impact, as a catalyst for the regeneration of the south side of Glasgow, with a strong focus on community engagement and inclusive design. There is a holistic approach to the whole campus, integrating seamlessly the base build and fit out along with restored historic buildings, landscaping and public realm.

“The flexible offices provide a huge range of great workplaces for the employees including cafes, gyms, meeting rooms, and plenty of outdoor spaces that encourage collaboration and support health and wellbeing. A sustainability centre has been created for visitors, that supports learning and education on climate change, renewable energy, sustainable materials and water reuse, whilst the generous and attractive public space supports a wide range of community use.”

There’s also a strong message to the built environment in the awards programme on the ways in which sustainability is being woven into the design of these workplaces. Says Burton: “With a renewed focus on environment, social value and governance (ESG) the awards have adapted to reflect those offices that the clients have placed sustainability at the heart of the project.

“The projects that show how they have minimised embodied carbon, and energy use, all while supporting occupant’s health and wellbeing are leading the way in this sector and this is reflected in the award winners.”