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The search is now underway to find the best brickwork in action. The Brick Development Association has opened the door for this year’s Brick Awards.
The Awards, which first took place in 1977, are one of the top design and construction awards in the country – and the definitive showcase for what clay brick can do.
Every year, hundreds of companies submit outstanding projects in the hope of winning and carrying off a highly acclaimed a prize. The standards are high, the competition fierce. Past winners include the cleverly designed Guildford Education Campus, a 60s refurbished house in London, a private housing development in Leicester and hard landscaping at a school in Berkhamsted.
14 trophies and one supreme award, the BDA Building of the Year, are up for grabs. And everyone involved in creating the winning projects – the architect/designer, the brick manufacturer and the brickwork contractor – is saluted.
“The annual Brick Awards is one of the UK’s longest established and most respected construction industry awards,” says BDA chairman Alan Baxter. “For the winners it’s true recognition of their skill and craft. They’re recognised by their industry as being the best in the business.”
Alongside that recognition, winners can look forward to extensive media coverage and can use the accolade in their marketing campaigns.
The Brick Awards show just what brick – the UK’s most popular cladding material – can achieve. Just take a look at www.brick.org.uk/awards to see just how high the standards are.
Entrants are judged on architectural design demonstrating sustainability credentials and the choice of brick. The judges are also seeking attention to good brick detailing, sustainability and quality craftsmanship.
This year marks a change to the awards up for grabs. The housing category has been increased to encourage entrants from small to large companies and will now incorporate both public and private housing developments within them. Due to the high number of schools and educational buildings entered last year, the building and landscape category will include an award for the best educational building. Other changes include broadening Best Refurbishment to include renovation projects and showcasing how brick can enhance landscaping projects in the Best Outdoor Space Project. You can enter as many projects as you like and compete for several awards with the same project.
- In housing:
- Best Housing Development 1-5 Units
- Best Housing Development 6-25 Units
- Best Housing Development 26+ Units
- Volume Housebuilding
- In building and landscape:
- Best Commercial Building
- Best Public Building
- Best Education Building
- Best Refurbishment and Renovation Project
- Best Outdoor Space
- And technical and craft:
- Innovative Use of Brick and Clay Products
- Best International Project
- Specialist Brickwork Contractor
- Best Craftsmanship Award
- Worldwide Brick
Then there’s the supreme award – the BDA Building of the Year, the one judged to be the best overall from the 14 award winners.
Last year’s winning project, The Guildford Education Campus, came top on the strength of its architecture and visual quality, which was brought to life by the choice of brick and the quality of the brickwork.’
The Brick Awards are open to anyone, whether they are architects/designers, building owners, developers, housebuilders, contractors or brick manufacturers. The only stipulation is that the project – unless it’s featured in the Worldwide category – must feature clay bricks or pavers made by BDA members.
The 2010 Brick Awards will be presented at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel in London on 3 November. You can download entry forms from the BDA’s website http://www.brick.org.uk/2010awards or a hard copy can be requested by emailing brick@brick.org.uk or by calling 020 7323 7030. The closing date for entries is 25 June 2010.
