SSDA shortlist highlights industry’s quality of work

The shortlist for the 44th Structural Steel Design Awards (SSDA) has been announced by the BCSA and Tata Steel.

Contrary to the tough market conditions the construction industry is experiencing, the number of entries for this year’s awards has increased, resulting in a shortlist of 29 projects.

The shortlist, as usual, reflects the geographical spread of steel’s appeal for a variety of projects ranging from heavyweight industrial plants to houses and sculptures, across the UK and the Channel Islands.

David Lazenby CBE, Chairman of the SSDA Judging Panel, said: “As in recent years, we have a good crop of ingenious and elegant footbridges, as well as heavy duty rail bridges and motorway structures. The buildings include welcome improvements to the transport infrastructure, commercial offices, facilities for the arts and sciences and health, and the continuing activities in energy-from-waste and power generation.

“Structures for the 2012 Olympics have now come through to fruition. I am always pleased that we have “little gems”, which are certainly not too small to impress!

“Altogether this is an outstanding representation of the skills and imagination of the industry, and a great response to the tough environment in which it operates. Congratulations are deserved by all the project teams, because without exception the work is praiseworthy. I am sure that we will have a wonderful array of winners in due course.”

The winners of the 2012 SSDAs will be announced at an evening reception in London during July.

SSDA Shortlist 2012

McLaren Production Centre, Woking
Maggies Cancer Caring Centre, Nottingham City Hospital
The Balancing Barn, Thorington, Suffolk
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff
Ticket Hall and Roof Lights, Farringdon Station, London
Slough Bus Station
West Burton Power Station
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Media City, Salford Quays
The Walbrook Building, Cannon Street, London
Deptford Lounge, Giffin Street, London
Energy from Waste Facility, La Collette, Jersey
London 2012 Velodrome, Olympic Park, London
NEO Bankside, Holland Street, London
National Indoor Sports Arena, Glasgow
St Georges Grove, London SW17
Peter’s Bridge, St Helen’s Wharf, Norwich
Porth Teigr Bridge Outer Lock Crossing, Cardiff Bay
IQ Winnersh Footbridge, Winnersh Triangle
M53 Bidston Moss Viaduct Strengthening
The Third Way Bridge, Taunton
Media City Footbridge, Salford Quays
Peace Bridge, Derry/Londonderry
Borough High Street Bridge, London
Arnside Viaduct, Morecombe Bay
RISE Sculpture, Broadway Roundabout, Belfast
The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare
Garsington Opera Pavilion, Stokenchurch
2012 Olympic Stadium