Buro Happold celebrates winning night at the Structural Awards 2011

Buro Happold

21/11/2011 Written by: Gill Sincock No comments

International multidisciplinary engineering consultants Buro Happold added to their already impressive awards tally for 2011 with a night of wins at this year’s prestigious Structural Awards ceremony on Friday (18 November).

The consultancy picked up three wins and a commendation for their inspired work on:

• - The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford
• - Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre, Kazakhstan
• - Wales Institute for Sustainable Education (WISE), Powys
• - Aviva Stadium, Dublin

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) has been lauded by theatregoers and the building world alike since it opened in October 2010; the theatre has won a number of awards including BCI Best Project, Building Awards Project of the Year as well as being shortlisted for this year’s Stirling Prize.

The Structural Awards judges when announcing the RST as the winner of the Heritage Award for Building/ Infrastructure Projects said “The sensitive and complex refurbishment of this landmark has elevated a theatre that was artistically world-renowned into a theatre that is technically world-class”.

Andrew Wylie, project leader for Buro Happold added “It’s great that this fantastic project and the considerable effort and ingenuity of the Buro Happold team has been recognised at the highest level by the Institution of Structural Engineers - well done to all involved - it was a true team effort!"

Winner of the Commercial/ Retail category, the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre was created as a much needed venue for the residents of Astana to meet, socialise and shop, in a country where the temperatures can range from - 40°C to +40°C. The structure features a 150m tent-like, cable-net structure containing a water park, retail outlets, cinemas, cafes and event spaces. The judges commented that “this iconic structure has not only created a fitting landmark in Kazakhstan’s capital but was completed to a tight programme in a very harsh climate, and fulfils its functions with great efficiency.”

Winner of the David Alsop Sustainability Award, WISE is a flagship education centre and exemplar of sustainable construction, and was built to enable the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) to host residential courses for Masters in Sustainable Building and Part II Architecture degrees.  Low embodied energy materials have been used to construct the centre including hemp and lime, and the centre’s lecture theatre features the highest rammed earth wall in the UK.

The judges felt that “The WISE development is a great advertisement for the outstanding achievements of CAT and acts as an inspiration for not only the students that will use it but the building industry as a whole.”

Highly distinctive and innovative, the Aviva Stadium is Dublin’s new award winning world-class rugby union and football venue. With a steel roof that encompasses a unique horseshoe truss, the stadium offers an uncompromising experience for spectators, and the ultimate playing surface for athletes. Awarding the stadium a commendation in the Sports/ Leisure Structures category, the judges commented that “Its shimmering, largely transparent form sits comfortable, yet boldly on the historic Lansdowne Road site.”

Fergus McCormack, Buro Happold’s leader on the project said ”Despite a number of complicated issues and constraints, through strong collaboration and exceptional engineering skills we have delivered a stunning building which, at the beginning, seemed to boarder on the impossible. This is a stadium that Ireland, and the project team, can be truly proud of!”