SSDA 50th Anniversary
SSDA reaches 50
Having started in 1969, the Structural Steel Design Awards
are this year celebrating their 50th anniversary. In the first
of a series of articles, NSC looks back at each of the past five
decades starting with the first awards and the 1970s.
Since the Structural Steel Design
Awards (SSDA) were initiated in
1969 by the British Constructional
Steelwork Association (BCSA) and
the British Steel Corporation there have
been many changes in the construction and
steel sectors, however one constant asset is
the way that steel not only confers efficiency
and economy, but also has an aesthetic
which designers are able to exploit to the
benefit of the built environment.
Steel continues to be the most popular
framing material and each year’s SSDA
entries reflect the increasingly high
standards that are being achieved, not only
in design and all aspects of fabrication, but
also in the short programmes and accuracy
on-site.
The qualities of engineering excellence,
innovation, attention to detail, economy and
speed of construction have been brought
together in each of the structures that have
been given awards during the past 49 years.
Eight projects achieved awards in the
inaugural year, with bridges accounting
for four of the winners; the Maryville
Interchange in Glasgow; Tinsley Viaduct,
M1, Sheffield; White Cart Viaduct, M8,
Glasgow Airport; and the Riverside
Shopping Precinct Footbridge in Thetford.
London Heathrow Airport’s expansion
was well under way in 1969 and the new
Terminal 1 building was another SSDA
winner, along with a high-rise residential
tower in east London’s Watney Market
Estate known as Winterton House. Having
been redeveloped 18 years ago Winterton
House is still a landmark building and one
of the tallest structures in Tower Hamlets.
Demonstrating steelwork’s wide appeal,
the other two awards were for a Service
Tower for the International Students
Club and a Water Tower for GKN Group
Research Centre.
10 NSC
April 18
Two of 1969’s SSDA
winners, Winterton House
in east London and Tinsley
Viaduct, Sheffield
Matt Brown, Flickr
Alan Padley, Flickr
/Structural_steel_design_awards
/Construction
/Design
/Fabrication
/Accuracy_of_steel_fabrication
/The_case_for_steel#Speed_of_construction
/Bridges
