Quality, sustainability and innovation recognised at BCO National Awards

The Forge and Edinburgh Park (1 New Park Square) won in their respective categories at the 2024 BCO National Awards this week.

The Forge picked up top honours in the Innovation category, whilst 1 New Park Square was named winner of the Commercial Workplace Award.

Delivered in joint venture with Mace, The Forge clearly wowed the Innovation Award judges, the BCO citation declaring it “a new benchmark for construction and innovation.” 

The citation goes on to read: “Lessons learnt, and its global recognition will help improve construction for years to come, by adopting new methods to improve safety, cut waste and raise quality which will provide benefit to the wider industry that will extend beyond the boundaries of the site.

“On a tight city centre site, developer Landsec briefed a next generation of smart office, an innovation project; to test new ideas, approaches, and products to improve construction efficiency. 

“The two buildings, Bronze and Myo Bankside, with a combined total of 139,000 sq ft, form the overall scheme… 

“Sustainability was a key focus for The Forge, and it was the first UK commercial development designed and built to meet the UK Green Building Council’s net zero carbon definition, and it has achieved its sustainability aims. 

“It was also the first large scale project to be designed and delivered using the Platform approach to Design for Manufacture, with UK Government grant funded as a demonstrator project for automated construction. 

“From a unique procurement route and championing Design for Manufacture (P-DfMA) to the digital tools that were employed, the project sought to be innovative in its approach at every step in its endeavour to seek to move the industry forward. 

“Throughout the development stage, there was a collaboration with the University of Cambridge to measure construction performance and productivity, while there was integration of new smart technology, use of digital tools, robotics and AI. 

“Design for manufacture, prefabrication, with fully integrated structure, services and cladding resulting in major savings in materials, wastage, construction time and carbon, with over 39% embodied carbon savings. 

“And the ultimate sign off, is that the Forge is one of the first net zero carbon buildings in the world in construction and operation with a Nabers5* rating.” 

Sustainability, high quality finishes and attention to detail throughout saw the judges hail Parabola’s 1 New Park Square “an exceptional building”.  

The project showed “bravery, creativity and illustrated the crucial role that workplace can play as a catalyst for re-generation,” said the judges. Not only that, but it is more than an ‘office’ building having opened itself up to be part of a new community with places and spaces to be used by both tenants, and the public. 

The BCO citation went on to say that: “As the first phase in an ambitious new mixed-use neighbourhood, the scheme has successfully re-defined the business park typology by delivering a fantastic quality of workplace, amenity and public realm.” 

Completed in Spring 2022, the 87,500sqft Grade A building features four upper floors of offices, along with ground floor amenities including a 150-seat conference and event area, a café/bakery and restaurant for use by the public. 

The net zero carbon office achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating with good gross to net ratios. Floor plates have an air displacement system allowing clean exposed soffits throughout and natural ventilation, assisting with temperature regulation in this all-electric building, and showing the sustainable approach to materials, which the judges loved.