Success Story - Meica Services, BCO Award Winners 2006
The British Council for Offices (BCO) celebrated the office design and fit out at the coveted BCO Awards, which took place at the Grosvenor Hotel in central London.
The BCO Award’s are recognised as the gold standard for office space and every year attract the cream of UK corporate real estate. This year was no exception. 1,500 guests gathered at the special ceremony to celebrate the very best in the sector. This year the 26 awards spanned a range of sectors from retail to banking and the standard as always was incredibly high.
BCO’s chief executive Richard Kauntze reinforced this message:
“Productivity, happiness and creativity of employees all depend on the quality of the environment in which they work. The BCO awards have created awareness of office workplaces, placing them at the forefront of the publics attention”.
The entries showed a significant rise in standards and a trend towards creating offices that echo the values of best practice.
With more than 7 million people in the UK working in offices, the BCO awards have inspired owners and developers of office buildings to compete to be the best.
The majority of winners have received top Environmental Assessment ratings (BREEAM) - a standard that is used to measure and assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. Within the UK, BREEAM is regarded as a measurement of quality for best practice in environmental design and management. Reflecting the pressure that government bodies have been putting on the development of buildings to be built with sustainable and environmental objectives.
The winners of lthe awards therefore not only represent forward thinking, but also encourage environmental credentials, innovative designs and most importantly a better working environment. This reflects the growing perceived importance of Eco-friendly buildings with sustainable credentials.
Chief Executive Richard Kauntze reinforced this notion about the environment commenting:
“We are particularly please with the growing quality of standards. It is important that we showcase the very best as it reflects trends in office demand and supply, which is very valuable for the wider development market to recognise.”
BCO Awards - Winners
President’s Award Sir Stuart Lipton
Best of the Best :
Roche UK New Head Office, Welwyn Garden City
Innovation :
Heelis; the National Trust Central Office
National Awards
Commercial Workplace (Joint Winners) :
Eliot Park Innovation Centre (EPIC), Nuneaton
One Hanover Street, London
Corporate Workplace :
Roche UK NEW Head Office, Welwyn Garden City
Refurbished/Recycled Workplace :
Skyways House, Liverpool
Fit-out of Workplace (large projects) :
Northern Foods Headquarters, Leeds