Throughout the following decade the
SSDA became an increasingly prestigious
competition, with awards granted only to
the most worthy schemes. Awards went
to construction teams for schemes across
of all types and sizes, honouring their
construction excellence and high calibre
design credentials.
Two examples of 1970s award winning
schemes, and ones which are still in use
today, are the St Katherine-by-the-Tower
Inner Lifting Bridge, London (a 1974
winner) and the Sainsbury Centre for the
Visual Arts (a 1978 winner).
Still regarded as a centrepiece in the
redeveloped St Katherine Docks, the
bridge was described by the SSDA judges
as a simple functional moving bridge that
matches its attractive setting.
The open steel grid for the carriageway
and the direct action lifting mechanism are
novel and contribute to the overall success
of a cleverly designed structure, they added.
According to the SSDA submission, the
client required a bridge which was simple
and inexpensive and which would add some
character to the Dock development.
There was no room for a bascule or
drawbridge, so a lifting bridge using cables
was chosen as the best option. The bridge’s
main side frames and deck crossbeams are
made from universal sections of high yield
steel.
The steelwork contractors for this project
were Boulton and Paul (Steel Construction)
and Mole Richardson, both working with
structural engineers Ove Arup & Partners.
Described by the SSDA judges as an
extreme example of a flexible shed, the
Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts is a
lordly space that embraces exhibition areas,
teaching spaces, restaurants and offices.
Located at the University of East Anglia
and designed by Foster Associates and
Anthony Hunt Associates, the structural
SSDA 50th Anniversary
concept of this 133m × 34m × 10m-high
building was to provide a large-scale,
lightweight elegant structure fabricated
offsite for accuracy and speed.
Approximately 290t of structural steel
was used for the project, which was erected
in an impressive 18 weeks by the steelwork
contractor Tubeworkers.
A full list and description of all Award
winners can be found at: https://www.
steelconstruction.info/SSDA_2018_–_50th_
Anniversary_Year
The 2018 Awards, which are jointly
sponsored by the BCSA and Trimble
Solutions (UK) Ltd, will be announced in
early October.
NSC 11
April 18
Going strong: the
Sainsbury Centre for
the Visual Arts was an
SSDA winner in 1978
The St Katherine Docks
bridge has withstood
the test of time and is
still in regular use
Space constraints
dictated the design of
the St Katherine Docks
bridge which was an
SSDA winner in 1974
A C Manley, Shutterstock
Bildagentur Zoona, Shutterstock
Viktor Kiev, Shutterstock
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