Technical

Structural Steel Design Awards 2020

Photography: Jim Holden

Over the years, the Structural Steel Design Awards (SSDA) have highlighted and rewarded many of the best examples of excellence, ambition and innovation in our built environment.

Now celebrating their 52nd year, the 2020 Awards, jointly sponsored by the British Constructional Steelwork Association and Trimble Solutions (UK) Ltd, continue that great tradition. This year’s collection of entries demonstrate UK excellence in steel fabrication, design and construction.

Once again, there has been a high number of quality entries and this year there are a wide variety of projects entered. Scales of entry ranged from sports grandstands, through prestige office buildings, to smaller educational and leisure projects and spectacular footbridges.

Twenty-two projects made the shortlist, from which the judges presented six awards, six commendations and two merits. Due to covid-19 restrictions, there was no gala presentation this year, while the judging panel, who normally visit the shortlisted entries, had to interview project team members via Microsoft Teams and Zoom.   

The SSDA’s cross-industry judging panel comprises: chairman Chris Nash, Bill Taylor and Oliver Tyler representing the Royal Institute of British Architects; Richard Barrett representing the steelwork contracting industry; Paul Hulme representing the Institution of Civil Engineers; and Sarah Pellereau, Professor Roger Plank and Julia Ratcliffe representing the Institution of Structural Engineers.

SSDA Awards

SSDA Commendations

SSDA Merits

Other finalists: 

  • The Balfour, Kirkwall, Orkney
  • Barton Square, Intu Trafford Centre, Manchester
  • Boeing GoldCare Aircraft Hangar, Gatwick Airport
  • Bridgewater Place Wind Amelioration Scheme, Leeds 
  • One Bank Street, Canary Wharf
  • Drake Circus The Barcode, Plymouth
  • National Infrastructure Laboratory, University of Southampton
  • The Wave, Coventry 
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