10-12 Downing Street, the building complex that includes the home of the British Prime Minister, is one of 17 international buildings to receive BREEAM Awards at Ecobuild.
The Downing Street complex had its sustainability assessed under the BREEAM In-Use scheme for existing buildings, and this year receives a special award for the building that has made the most improvement year-on-year in its BREEAM In-Use performance. Other BREEAM Award winners range from Victorian terrace homes in Manchester and industrial buildings in Wigan, to innovative office and retail developments in Paris, London and Istanbul.
“Statistics released at the end of 2012 for BREEAM suggest that developers and owners are continuing to treat sustainability as a priority, despite the tough economic climate,” says Richard Hardy, Managing Director of BRE Global, which develops and manages BREEAM.
“They show that 2012 was a record year for BREEAM registrations and certifications. Since 1998 BREEAM has certified more than 16,000 projects, equating to over 250,000 buildings and in excess of 45 million m2 of floor area.
“We believe that one of the reasons for this continuing commitment to making buildings more sustainable, is the growing evidence that the greater efficiency and quality associated with sustainability is also helping to make such buildings more commercially successful.”
The BREEAM Awards pay tribute to the outstanding skill and determination of the building owners, developers, project teams and assessors who are setting new standards in sustainability. All of the award-winning buildings achieved at least an ‘Excellent’ rating, which requires a BREEAM score of 70% or above, with an increasing number reaching the 85% needed for ‘Outstanding’.
The very wide range of building types receiving awards reflects the expansion of BREEAM from its original focus on new buildings, to existing buildings in-use, refurbishment projects and community level masterplanning. It also reflects BREEAM’s increasing international influence, with buildings in Belgium, France and Turkey receiving awards.
In addition to the building awards, there are also awards for the most successful BREEAM Assessor company, and for individual BREEAM Assessors and BREEAM In-Use Auditors. These acknowledge the vital role that assessors and auditors play in the success of the scheme and the clients and projects that use BREEAM.
In recognition of BREEAM’s growing international presence, a new category of assessor awards, the BREEAM Country First Awards, has been introduced this year. BREEAM Assessors in Bulgaria, China, Greece, Iceland, Lebanon and Malta have been recognised for their pioneering work in those countries.
The winners of the BREEAM 2013 building awards are:
BREEAM Award Winner
In-Use Special Award 10-12 Downing Street
Industrial Armstrong Point, Wigan
Refurbishment Special Award Bowker Street, Manchester
Fire Station Carlton Fire Station, Nottingham
International – Offices Challenger, France
Data centres Cobalt Data Centre 2, Newcastle
Education Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen, Bridgend
International – Other Buildings De Balk van Beel, Leuven
Healthcare Edge Lane Hospital, Liverpool
Other Buildings Five Pancras Square, London
Prisons Kitchen and VT Workshops, HMP Thameside
In-Use Parts 1 and 2 Kanyon, Istanbul
In-Use International (Pilot) Le Hive, Paris
Offices One Angel Square, Manchester
Multi-residential Llys Ton Extra Care Centre, Bridgend
Courts Newport Magistrates Court
Retail Waitrose, Bracknell
