Last night, the Wave took home the Social Infrastructure Project of the Year award at the BCIA Awards. This accolade is a testament to the project’s visionary design and exceptional delivery, establishing the Wave as a beacon of excellence in social infrastructure development.
“This was an exceptional project which delivered across the full range of criteria that the judges considered. From the outset it was clear that this team had a vision to deliver something that would exceed the quality of other buildings in the university – delivering an all-electric building which has been assessed as BREEAM Outstanding, that now sets the standard for other similar projects.”
The Wave, a 6,600 sqm building for the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Social Sciences was celebrated for how it meets the university’s future growth demands to the year 2035 whilst providing a world class, highly sustainable environment that encourages collaboration and enhances the faculty’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research.
The brief for The Wave was to provide a hub for the Faculty of Social Sciences, housing five of its departments in a highly sustainable, collaborative building that gives the faculty an identity. Departments were previously scattered across 12 buildings that had no identity, were very expensive to run, prevented collaborative work and had limited opportunities for growth. Using a local design team from our Sheffield Studio who understood the wider project context has resulted in a building that responds to all stakeholders’ needs and creates true social value. The Wave is a public building that supports students across the whole university and is also a community asset for local residents and the neighbouring hospital. While the pocket parks create much needed public external space, the Wave Kitchen hosts Weston Park Cancer Charity Coffee Mornings and provides the perfect venue for patients, friends and colleagues from Weston Park Hospital to come together to chat and support one another. This core team engaged with the University’s learning and teaching group, accessibility group, chaplaincy and EDI group to ensure a truly inclusive environment was created. This approach highlights how the Wave and its construction has been used as both a learning tool and to maximise social value for the users and the local community.
BCIA Judges Praise for The Wave’s Innovative Design and Delivery
Commenting on the Wave, the BCIA judges said:
“This was an exceptional project which delivered across the full range of criteria that the judges considered. From the outset it was clear that this team had a vision to deliver something that would exceed the quality of other buildings in the university – delivering an all-electric building which has been assessed as BREEAM Outstanding, that now sets the standard for other similar projects. The panel noted the design optimisation which led to materials savings (and better environmental outcomes) the data model which was used throughout and drove construction sequencing and the energy model. As a net zero carbon building in operation, the team had an excellent understanding of the trade-offs that had to be made to achieve this together with embodied carbon targets. The collaboration across the delivery team was clear from the outset as was the benefit that was gained from engaging early with the Contractor and professional team. The panel noted the accessibility built into the design, another area where this project can set the standard for similar buildings, and the focus on delivering social value to the community. We liked the mention of the active travel strategy for this building with EV charging and an increase in cycling provision. The panel felt this team should also be commended for their integrity in explaining their GI challenges at the beginning of construction.”
Head of Education Claire Wakelin commented on The Wave’s success: “Winning the Social Infrastructure Project of the Year award is an incredible recognition of the dedication, partnership, and thoughtful design that brought The Wave to life. This building is more than just an academic facility; it’s a dynamic community hub where ideas are shared, communities come together research, creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation. We’re incredibly proud of what we have achieved and look forward to seeing The Wave continue to inspire and support future generations.”
