SDA 2009 – Students show design innovation

Winners – Structures: University of Southampton. L-R: Rohan Mehpa, Mark Eaden, Paolo Faccioli, Laura Lee, Dr Mike Byfield and Kirby Adams

Winners – Bridges: Cardiff University. L-R: Jay Patel, Kirby Adams and Professor R Lark

Winners – Architecture: Manchester School of Architecture; Romulus Sim (centre right), with his tutors Harriet Harris (centre left) and Siobhan Barry (right). Kirby Adams is to their left.

The Corus Student Design Awards once again revealed the depth of architectural and engineering talent that is coming through UK universities and colleges, said Corus Chief Executive Officer Kirby Adams who presented the prizes. “The future of steel construction design looks secure, judging by the standard of this year’s entries,” said Mr Adams. “The winning teams showed a high level of innovation and design skill, with a developed appreciation of what steel can achieve. My congratulations go to them all.”

Prizes were presented at an awards ceremony held at London’s Science Museum to undergraduates from the University of Southampton, Cardiff University and Manchester School of Architecture. The awards, organised by Corus, supported by the Steel Construction Institute, the British Constructional Steelwork Association and others, were created by Corus to acknowledge excellence in steel design.

The Structures prize went to the University of Southampton whose entry comprised a series of trussed arches that the judges panel, chaired by Alan Jones of SKM anthony hunts, said has real architectural presence. Cardiff University was awarded the Bridges prize, with the judges chaired by Barry Mawson of Capita Symonds commenting particularly on the good conceptual design of the approach spans, and good clear drawings. Manchester School of Architecture’s entry was described by the judges panel, chaired by David Bonnett of David Bonnett Associates, as terrific and very elegant, and was an idea that had not been seen before.

The brief for the Bridge entries was to design a structure to carry a dual carriageway over a grade separated interchange with a motorway.  An elegant structural solution had to be produced, demonstrating sound engineering and structural design skills.

For the Structures award students had to produce an outline design for a structure to enclose a winter sports facility, including an artificial ski slope, an ice skating rink and a climbing wall. Individuality and flair were among the qualities looked for.

The design brief for the Architecture award was to produced a design for Community One, a ‘vertical community’ where people would live, work and use leisure facilities under one roof instead of increasing pollution through travelling.