Last night at the British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA), we were delighted to receive a winners’ trophy for our digital initiative, as well as a project commendation.
“This project not only met the criteria across the board for Digital Initiative of the Year but also had a clear path to be scalable.”
Taking the title of ‘Digital Initiative of the Year’ was our collaborative Research and Development (R&D) project with the University of Glasgow, IES and Sciencescope, known as eDigiT2Life. Judges commented:
“This project not only met the criteria across the board for Digital Initiative of the Year but also had a clear path to be scalable. The outputs from the project can be used to demonstrate the benefits of adoption of digital solutions to improve the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the built environment. This innovation was well presented and linked the use of a digital twin solution to the opportunity have a wider influence across the whole of the built environment. The solution has generated evidence to show how digital twining from a operational perspective.”
Funded by Innovate UK, eDigiT2Life saw the development and trial of a digital twin, evolving from compliance building models to operational digital twin of buildings. Using the University of Glasgow’s extensive estate which includes a variety of buildings constructed between 1885 and 2022, the research team looked to assess current performance across the whole building lifecycle, and investigate options for improving this. The eDigiT2Life project innovates both in the technical methodology to evolve the digital twin and in the business model utilised to commercialise its adoption and proliferation.
Simon Bell, Director and Sustainability Board Sponsor, commented:
“Its great for this important piece of R&D to gain recognition for the truly innovative approach to designing for performance, connecting physical assets with digital twins to optimise energy efficiency and comfort in response to real world conditions as well as providing a robust test bed for testing the potential outcomes of operational changes.”
The judges were hugely impressed with the Council’s vision and the successful delivery a fantastic community facility. The building is hugely sustainable and economically viable.
Also receiving the ‘Highly Commended’ accolade in the Cultural & Leisure Project of the Year category was Wokingham Leisure Centre and Library complex at Carnival Hub. This mixed-use development brings together a library, sports and leisure centre, café and spa in a highly energy-efficient scheme. The hub forms part of the Wokingham Town Centre Regeneration, creating a sustainable, community-enhancing facility complete with remodelled public realm to the exterior.
The judges were “hugely impressed with the Council’s vision and the successful delivery a fantastic community facility. The building is hugely sustainable and economically viable. The use of PVs, air source heat pumps and technology to monitor use is highly impressive.”
Chris Mee, Project Lead, commented:
“Carnival Hub being Highly Commended for Cultural & Leisure Project of the Year at the BCI Awards recognises not only the project team’s hard work and commitment to delivering an important community asset, but also the central role that Carnival Hub now plays in Wokingham town centre.”
To be recognised with two such different pieces of work in a highly competitive, well-established awards programme is a great honour. Both align with our ambition to create a sustainable built environment for the future, while demonstrating our breadth of work in both physical builds and research partnerships.
