SSDA Awards
Structural Steel Design Awards 2009
Hafod Eryri, Snowdonia National Park
Introduction
by David W. Lazenby CBE – Chairman of the Judges
Every year the Structural Steel Design Awards demonstrate that steelwork is the structural material of choice for so much of our built environment.
This year the entries again show how project teams successfully exploit the aesthetic, technical and economic benefits of steel. The judges have been impressed by the range of types and sizes of projects submitted, and the intelligent team collaborations which have proved successful on them, both public and private. Whether in buildings or bridges, large or small, the quality of the short-list and particularly the winners is outstanding. Also, in a world which is increasingly concerned with the demands of sustainability, steel is seen to have strong green credentials.
The Awards celebrate excellence in concept, design and execution of a wide range of projects. They are beacons of success in a challenging world.
The Judges
Chairman of the Structural Steel Design Awards judges David Lazenby CBE had a distinguished career as a consulting engineer before taking a new turn in the late 1990s to give British Standards new focus and direction. He also led the huge pan-European exercise to develop the Eurocodes, as Chairman of the lead European committee.
David Lazenby’s career began with Balfour Beatty in 1959. In 1964 he moved to consultant Andrews Kent & Stone, where he stayed for 30 years and became managing partner and subsequently a director. In 1990–91 he was one of the youngest ever Presidents of the Institution of Structural Engineers.
In parallel he had become involved in developing codes and standards, advancing from technical committees and sector boards to become a non-executive director of BSI Group. In 1997 he became the Director of British Standards, one of three executive directors responsible for over 5000 staff in 100+ countries, and a budget of £300+M.
His experience both as a user of standards and as a committee and board member helped him to bring a new focus on market relevance and he is credited with bringing global success to the organization. Establishing it as a world leader in its field, as well as making it profitable, has been almost unique among national standards bodies.
Since 2003 he has operated his own consultancies, Eurocode Consultants Ltd. and DWL Consultants Ltd. He is currently advising on a major project in Abu Dhabi.
Martin Manning is an Arup Fellow and a Director of Arup. He joined the firm directly from university and during the last 40 years has worked in Arup offices, and on projects, around the world.
More recently he has worked on airport terminal buildings and railway stations. He is currently engaged on a large mixed-use development in central London.
He is the current Chairman of the SCI, a Member of The Institution of Structural Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Gerry Hayter has spent his career in transport, mainly in London. He joined London Underground as a civil engineering graduate in 1975, working on the design of railway bridges, lifts and stations. After 10 years he joined the Bridges Engineering Division of the Department of Transport where he developed new standards for the design, assessment of highway bridges and structures for 40 tonne lorries.
In 1994 he joined the London Network Management Division of the Highways Agency, responsible for the maintenance of highway structures in West London. A number of senior technical posts at the agency followed, culminating in his present position as Group Manager of the Research and Standards Management Group, with responsibility for the development of the Agency’s £12m research programme.
Christopher Nash is Managing Partner of Grimshaw Architects. He graduated in 1978 from Bristol University School of Architecture, and joined Grimshaw in 1982. As an architect he was responsible for many of the practice’s high profile buildings. These include – from his early years – the Financial Times Printing Works in London’s Docklands and the British Pavilion for the Seville Expo 92, The Western Morning News headquarters in Plymouth, the RAC Regional Headquarters in Bristol and many other projects.
Having spent ten years as Managing Partner, Chris has recently returned to leading projects. Following the success of the Zurich Airport fifth expansion project, he is currently Partner in charge of the team designing the five projects comprising the Gatwick Airport South Terminal modernisation.
Joe Locke retired in 2004 from his position at William Hare, where he was responsible for the engineering aspects of the company’s activities and also Executive Director of subsidiary Westbury Tubular Structures; having previously retired in 1998 as Chief Executive Officer of Watson Steel. Joe was an apprentice with Watson and sat his associate membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers at only 23.
Joe worked at home and overseas on a considerable number of high prestige contracts, including Sellafield nuclear power station’s massive thermal oxide reprocessing plant and the terminal building of Kansai airport, Japan. Joe Locke was awarded an MBE in 1990 for his contribution to the structural steelwork industry.
Oliver Tyler joined Wilkinson Eyre Architects (WEA) in 1991; he became an Associate in 1997 and then a Director in 1999. He has over 23 years experience in architectural practice and extensive experience in leading and coordinating the design and construction of buildings.
Oliver has led a number of prestigious projects at WEA including Stratford Market Depot and Stratford Regional Station in London for the Jubilee Line Extension; the Dyson Headquarters in Wiltshire and the Arena and Convention Centre in Liverpool – the centrepiece for the city’s 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations.
He is currently Director in charge of the Crossrail Liverpool Street Station Project, the new Regional Headquarters for Audi UK in London and a number of other major commercial developments.
