The shortlist has been announced for the 2023 Building Innovation Awards
This post was originally published on this site
The Building Innovation Awards are back for 2023, and are a special occasion to recognise and celebrate the individuals, organisations and partnerships that make the UK Construction industry the best in class.
The top innovators in the country have made this year’s finalists, who are pioneering technologies, approaches and projects that deliver a greener, smarter and safer built environment for all.
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner and ceremony on 12th October 2023 at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, in the centre of Manchester. With thanks to this year’s sponsors; Revizto, Bricsys, MPBA, Futurebuild and Nima.
Last year’s Building Innovation Awards was a resounding success, from the opening drinks to the award announcements and then the party with the live band to finish off the evening.
Commenting on the awards, Managing Director at Build in Digital, Joe Broun said “The calibre of this year’s finalists are off the scale! These projects, the technologies represented and the phenomenal people who are making a difference in the UK Construction arena, to futureproof our built environment, are showcasing innovation at its best!”
Joe continued to say “We can’t wait to present the winners on the night and to welcome you all to an event that with dazzle, glitter and shine in your memories for all the right reasons”.
The evening begins with a welcome drinks reception, followed by a three-course dinner with complimentary wine. Dinner will be followed by the awards ceremony and then live music, a dancefloor and a great atmosphere full of winners and celebrations, will top off the night, creating all the ingredients for a night to remember!
Full Shortlist:
Here is the full 2023 Finalist Shortlist, followed by the details of each entry, to give you a deeper dive into why they made our shortlist, and could be a possbile winner of their own Building Innovation Award 2023.
Most Innovative On-Site Monitoring Tool
Buildots
SymTerra
Odense Hospital Project Team
VisiLean Ltd
Best Use of AR/ VR in a Construction Project
McAvoy
Winvic Construction Ltd
XYZ Reality
Best Use of 3D Printing Technology
ChangeMaker 3D Ltd
VINCI Building
Best Use of Information Management Using BIM
hsbcad
Travis Perkins
VINCI Building
xbim
Best Use of Robotics in Construction
HP Construction Services
hyperTunnel
Best Modular Innovation
Allia Future Homes
BlokBuild
McAvoy
Best Financial Innovation
Eque2
Payapps
WebContractor Ltd
Best Asset Management Innovation
Cadline
Fexillon
Ridge & Partners
Waldeck
Best Carbon Monitoring Tool
Allies and Morrison LLP
Causeway Technologies
Cercula
Preoptima
Winvic Construction Ltd
Best Health & Safety Innovation
Essential Site Skills
HammerTech
innDex and Glencar
Odense Hospital Project Team
Operance
Paperless Construction
Reactec
Safety Shield Global Ltd and Ardent Hire Solutions
Winvic Construction Ltd
Best Materials Innovation
Leadax Circular Waterproofing
Marshalls
Mykor ltd
Prometheus Materials
ROCKWOOL UK
Most Innovative Commercial Project
Sponsored by
40 Leadenhall Street – M&G Real Estate, Mace, Make Architects, Glider & Arcadis
Technique – B&K Structures
The Recircle Headquarters – Eatock Design and Build (EDB)
Most Innovative Restoration / Refurbishment Project
Building 84, Cranfield University – RG Carter
Elizabeth Tower – Sir Robert McAlpine
Restoration of the Old Post Office Building, Chester – Armstrong B2B
The New Paterson Cancer Research Facility, The Christie – Imtech Engineering Services
Best Use of Timber on a Construction Project
A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP
B&K Structures
Buckland Timber
Burmor Construction Ltd
William Saunders Partners
Most Sustainable Construction Project
Future Home @ Energy House 2.0 – Bellway
4 Angel Square, NOMA – Bowmer and Kirkland
Merstham Park School – McAvoy
Castle Hill – ReWorks Building – William Saunders Architects, Pinnacle Group & Blokbuild
Best Use of Digital Twin Technology
CoreLogic UK
hsbcad
IES
Best Digital Transformation
Sponsored by
ALICE Technologies
IES
innDex and Procore
Odense Hospital Project Team
Operance
Rhodar Industrial Services
Most Innovative New Product (Hardware)
Blokbuild
ALIMATS Half-Loader Spreader Module – Brilliant Ideas
ALIMATS load spread solution for MEWPS – Brilliant Ideas
Rocksilk® RainScreen FFCB – Knauf Insulation
HRXE-ZEUS – Domus Ventilation
Tyneham Air Source Heat Pump – Hamworthy Heating
Most Innovative New Product (Digital)
WholeHouse – Travis Perkins
ONE Engage
Operance
Heat3D – Build Test Solutions
HP SitePrint – HP Construction Services
The Digital Thumbs Up – Safety Shield Global Ltd and Anglian Water
measurable.energy
Most Innovative Contech Start-up
ConWize
Beawre Digital SL
Inevidesk
OpenSpace
Operance
VisiLean Ltd
Most Innovative SME
AeroBarrierUK
Build Test Solutions
Kelda Showers
ONE Creative Environments
Oris
Most Innovative Supplier
Brilliant Ideas Ltd
Travis Perkins
Swifix ltd
Most Innovative Contractor
Algeco
Kier
Three Sixty Ltd
Winvic Construction Ltd
Best Technology Partner
ALICE Technologies
Bricsys
Buildots
hsbcad
MA2 Solutions Ltd
Revizto
SymTerra
XYZ Reality
Innovation Champion 2023
Ian Harding – BIM Section Head Ireland Operations, Jacobs
Jim Cowell – UK Technical Director, Algeco
Scott Pilgrim – Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Operance
Best Use of Alternative Fuels
Judges’ Choice Award – no shortlist released. The winner will be announced on the night
Shortlist Entry Details
Each Entry is detailed below for a deeper dive into what, how and who is at the cutting edge of building innovation, right now.
Most Innovative On-site Monitoring Tool
Buildots
Buildots is a one-of-a-kind, highly advanced and innovative software solution designed to tackle the biggest challenges faced by the construction industry, including inefficiency. Buildots analyses data captured via 360- degree cameras using AI models to provide highly accurate and actionable insights that are then compared with the project’s designs, schedule and budget. The platform is helping transform construction management, enhance resource efficiency, save management time, and avoid costly errors on construction projects worldwide.
Odense Hospital Project Team
TokenMe’s IoT devices have been successfully developed in the construction site of Odense University Hospital, one of the largest in Europe. The system utilizes advanced technologies for incident response, people counting, and environmental monitoring. It incorporates strategically placed sensor hubs known as “anchors,” which work alongside smart badges or “tokens” worn by workers. TokenMe’s solution offers an intuitive dashboard and comprehensive sensor integration, revolutionizing on-site monitoring while maintaining full compliance with GDPR regulations.
SymTerra
SymTerra’s platform allows easy, instant, and intuitive communication across multiple contractors to the same project. Clients, contractors, and subcontractors can now document works via images and video, cross reference assets and activities, and share information instantly.
SymTerra is set to resolve a unified pain-point across all construction sites: poor communication. Unlike existing software where information is siloed, we allow site teams to communicate and share updates through flexible pricing and user permissions that reflect how work is delivered.
VisiLean Ltd
VisiLean is built on the principles of visual management, and the Last Planner® System for collaborative planning. It was used to address material issues, link the plant call-offs, and more in the Willmott Dixon project. The cloud-based platform streamlined the data into visual BIM models format for future planning, detected the trades, and monitored the plan to its progress. This ensured complete transparency between the headquarters and teams offsite about the job to be executed.
Best Use of AR/ VR in a Construction Project
McAvoy
McAvoy is one of the UK and Ireland’s market leaders in the precision manufacture and delivery of high-quality permanent and semi-permanent modular buildings. Its adaptable and sustainable space solutions are sought after in sectors including health, education, commercial and infrastructure. McAvoy introduced Augmented Reality (AR) into its processes after identifying the need for a solution that could verify the design data from 3D BIMs in the context of the physical built project.
Winvic Construction Ltd
As a digital pioneer, Winvic has fully embraced BIM and VR and has recognised the tremendous potential of VR technology to deliver Health & Safety training more creatively than ever as part of its Doing It Right programme. In doing so it has created more effective and efficient training processes and enhanced the overall learning experience.
XYZ Reality
XYZ Reality leads the construction industry with the game-changing Atom, the most accurate Engineering Grade Augmented Reality headset. Partnering with Mace Group, the Atom revolutionized quality assurance, preventing costly delays and slashing expenses. Engineering Grade AR delivered unmatched value by elevating quality, resolving issues proactively, fostering collaboration, and enabling real-time project-wide insights. With XYZ Reality’s technology, construction achieves unparalleled efficiency, accuracy, and success.
Best Use of 3D Printing Technology
ChangeMaker 3D Ltd
ChangeMaker 3D, a UK based start-up, and Skanska Costain STRABAG JV (SCSJV) have collaborated to deliver the first low carbon, graphene enhance on-site 3D printed structure in the rail industry. With the support of the High Speed 2 programme, ChangeMaker 3D and SCSJV have proven the technology and the benefits that can bring productivity and sustainability enhancements to the UK construction industry to deliver a greener, faster, safer and more cost effective programme.
VINCI Building
They printed a scaled 3d BIM model linked with QR codes to custom inhouse VR technology to help visualise the complex construction of the first phase of one of the largest regeneration projects in the country. Involved the 3d printed model and visualisation of a complex design and build methodology of a 26 storey apartment building directly above two tube lines in New Covent Garden Market in a very restricted space.
Best Use of Information Management Using BIM
hsbcad
hsbcad’s BIM-compliant software solutions facilitate stakeholder collaboration and enhance communication, enabling precise quantities and dimensions to be extracted from the model and generating detailed digital shop drawings and bills of materials for efficient manufacturing and assembly. BIM has improved cost estimation and project visualization, mitigating risk, improving clash detection, and improving build quality and design freedom. BIM has revolutionized the construction industry, allowing customers to explore innovative designs and deliver exceptional results.
Travis Perkins
WholeHouse® is revolutionising the housebuilding market, enabling housebuilders to build quality, sustainable homes, easier, faster and without wasting unnecessary time or money. Born from Travis Perkins’ desire to work more closely with Regional Housebuilders, WholeHouse® helps Housebuilders save time and build smarter
Vinci Building
Vinci Building is a leader in the construction industry, renowned for its innovative use of BIM. Vinci has seamlessly integrated BIM into its processes, using it to streamline information management, enhance collaboration, and mitigate risks. This has resulted in improved cost estimation, flawless clash detection, and heightened build quality. Vinci’s commitment to BIM has not only optimised its processes but has also positioned it at the forefront of industry innovation. Vinci Building is a pioneer
Xbim
The cloud delivery of the Flex Platform in Benchmarks Digital Estimating tool simplifies the process of revising estimates when design changes occur, as iterations to a scheme’s design can be quickly reviewed to determine exactly what has been altered across a set of models. This allows users to quickly identify which take-off quantities require updating, instantly seeing the impact on cost and timings.
Best Use of Robotics in Construction
HP Construction Services
P SitePrint, designed to automate the site layout process. The main element of the solution is a rugged and autonomous robotic device designed to operate in the conditions of the construction site. This robotic solution, including obstacle avoidance, can improve the productivity of layout process up to 10x. It can print lines and complex objects with pinpoint accuracy and consistent repeatability, while text printing brings additional data from the digital model to the construction site.
HyperTunnel
hyperTunnel is a technology scale-up developing a new methodology for underground construction, designed to be substantially faster, safer, more economical and environmentally friendly than current techniques, providing the technological breakthrough for increased, sustainable underground solutions. hyperTunnel uses a unique combination of proven technologies from diverse industries – including Digital Twins, robotics, 3D printing and geophysical surveying, supported by AI and VR – to redefine what is possible in underground construction, enlargement, monitoring and repair.
Best Modular Innovation
Allia Future Homes
Allia Future Homes specialises in modular housing installations, built to provide affordable supported living for those experiencing homelessness. The benefits for the residents and the homelessness charities that run the communities has been proven, that they are a cost effective and flexible stepping stone that help rough sleepers in desperate situations transition into permanent homes and settled lives.
Blokbuild
The Castlehill ReWorks building is designed to foster inclusivity and provide vocational education on sustainable principles for children with learning and physical disabilities. In alignment with its purpose of sustainability and innovation, the building exemplifies these principles through its construction process. The curved structural timber shell was formed using computer-generated and digitally manufactured, bespoke cassettes. Off-site fabrication enabled efficient delivery and low-impact site assembly in just 14 days.
McAvoy
McAvoy is one of the UK and Ireland’s market leaders in the precision manufacture and delivery of high-quality permanent and semi-permanent modular buildings. SmartSpace modular buildings are an industry-leading innovation which can support customers in meeting immediate needs. The buildings are manufactured offsite, enabling customers to avail of a ready-to-use building, boasting industry-leading levels of quality and performance. SmartSpace is fit for the future and designed to meet and exceed future building regulation requirements.
Best Financial Innovation
Eque2
Eque2’s EVision cloud-based construction ERP software provides users with one fully integrated solution to manage the entire construction and contracting lifecycle from initial bid, through to site and final account. EVision helps users to complete projects on-time and within budget by giving them full control of their commercial, financial, and operational processes and data, providing role-based access to information on any PC, laptop, mobile or tablet device and ensuring early sight of a project’s outcome.
Payapps
Managing applications for payment has traditionally been a time-consuming and heavily manual process, prone to errors and often causing project delays. Using innovative technology, Payapps has standardised the payment process, allowing contractors and subcontractors to collaborate within a shared platform during the submission, assessment and certification of applications for payment. This not only improves visibility of payment status and predictability of cash flow but affords simpler, faster, fairer supply chain payments.
WebContractor Ltd
WebContractor is an online portal for the end-to-end management of the subcontractor Application for Payment process, helping contractor’s commercial and finance teams move to a seamless, digital way of working. Offering full visibility of the subcontractor application process, WebContractor helps to protect and predict cash flow, demonstrate payment practices, and support compliance with the UK Construction Act and Ireland’s Construction Contracts Act.
Best Asset Management Innovation
Cadline
Cadline’s DynamicAIM is their next generation, cloud first asset management platform that connects traditional asset information together with building models and reality capture data in one environment. It delivers a rich, interactive experience for viewing, managing, operating and maintaining building assets, directly in a web browser, on any device. With UK Building Safety Bill in mind, DynamicAIM’s search and presentation engine delivers detailed reporting on the development of the building asset data throughout its lifecycle.
Fexillon
Fexillon Platform and industry experts assist Owner Operators with the delivery and management of Buildings and Infrastructure data, ensuring they receive the right information at the right time, driving better outcomes for their built assets on the path to Net Zero. Fexillon Platform gives client a complete overview of all build information with day one engagement between the Projects and Operations team, creating a golden thread of information and approved Digital Building record at handover.
Ridge & Partners
Ridge has pioneered a fresh approach to information management on projects. Through low-code applications, we’ve been able to link database technology to our model authoring software. This is helping us to automate much of the data delivery on our projects, creating value for our clients by enabling them to better manage their assets. This approach means things like ‘whole life cost analysis’ and ‘asset replacement planning’ can become part of our standard deliverables.
Waldeck
The asset viewing solution has been developed to automatically generate Network Rail’s Bridge Condition Marking Index (BCMI) score based upon the calculation developed by Network Rail as a high-level asset management tool to track a bridge asset condition over time.
The precision of machine learning for masonry defect recognition/ categorisation has been increased in excess of 90% within the solution and the incorporation and tracking of previously recorded defects against the asset within the system improves the digital record and inspection of Network Rail’s bridge assets.
Best Carbon Monitoring Tool
Allies and Morrison LLP
The AAM Circular platform from Allies and Morrison seeks to push the industry beyond just the measurement of embodied carbon alone, and refocus our collective decarbonisation strategy on material circularity. Our platform provides our building endusers with the transparency and confidence required to reuse building components. If the industry is to achieve Net Zero targets, we must reform the linear supply chain culture that currently exists, and leverage emerging technologies in establishing circular design principles.
Causeway Technologies
Together with Aggregate Industries, Balfour Beatty, Galliford Try and Morgan Sindall Causeway Technologies is developing its Scope 3 initiative: a solution that can deliver a credible, verifiable, efficient, and scalable way to measure and report on Scope 3 emissions in real time. The software works by automatically extracting data from Tradex – the UK’s largest connected construction supply chain community – and has the potential to transform the industry on its journey to Net Zero.
Cercula
Cercula’s submission for the “Best Carbon Monitoring Tool” award highlights its commitment to sustainability in construction. With a user-friendly interface and understandable reports, Cercula stands out as a leading solution for effective carbon monitoring. Its intuitive design enables seamless navigation, while actionable reports empower informed decision-making. Cercula’s comprehensive functionality and real-time monitoring provide accurate carbon assessment. By prioritizing accessibility and usability, Cercula drives positive change in the industry by enabling professionals to effortlessly manage.
Preoptima
Preoptima, a leading climate-tech venture, is transforming carbon management in construction with its pioneering tools Preoptima BUILDING and Preoptima API. By harnessing the power of AI to predict material quantities and evaluate the whole life carbon impact of buildings from the earliest design stages, Preoptima disrupts traditional carbon measurement with continuous Carbon Twin benchmarking. With market traction and robust academic backing, Preoptima is poised to drive a carbon-neutral future for UK and global construction.
Winvic Construction Ltd
Through innovative and sustainable procurement and project delivery, Winvic is helping its clients achieve ambitious ESG goals. One of the challenges Winvic faces is addressing one of the most significant contributors to carbon emissions: building materials. The creation of a new AI-Based Embodied Carbon Calculator, gives Winvic the ability to optimise schemes and see embodied carbon costs as real-time design and apply material changes leading to quantifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Best Health & Safety Innovation
Essential Site Skills
Essential Site Skills (ESS) In-House bespoke training models allow learners to complete training in their own actual working environment, making the training more relevant to their workplace. It is essential that all site management personnel recognise and understand that site safety depends on people and communication. Taking the industry forward, In-House Training and refresher training is crucial to maintaining a safe construction site.
HammerTech
With HammerTech, prime contractors know their sites are safe even when a safety manager isn’t there. With more unique construction safety and operations processes digitised in one solution than any other software, contractors crowdsource safety efforts and prioritize efficiency. HammerTech’s new feature, Insights provides teams fast and unrivalled reports for less effort. One platform overcomes the difficulties of external BI tools while retaining data breadth and customisation for smarter decisions and safer sites.
innDex and Glencar
Working with digital solutions provider innDex, Glencar developed an all-encompassing workforce/site management tool to boost efficiencies on projects and manage HSE requirements across the business. Using machine learning techniques, Glencar can predict AFRs, spot trends, and proactively address potential issues to improve safety performance across the business, reducing the AFR from 0.17 in 2020 to 0.026 in 2023 whilst nearly doubling their turnover and staff numbers for the year.
Odense Hospital Project Team
TokenMe’s IoT devices have been successfully developed in the construction site of Odense University Hospital, one of the largest in Europe. The system utilizes advanced technologies for incident response, people counting, and environmental monitoring. It incorporates strategically placed sensor hubs known as “anchors,” which work alongside smart badges or “tokens” worn by workers. TokenMe’s solution offers an intuitive dashboard and comprehensive sensor integration, revolutionizing on-site monitoring while maintaining full compliance with GDPR regulations.
Operance
The Golden Thread Solution, centralising fire safety information and providing real-time access. This approach brings a step-change in quality, time savings, and cost reduction for construction companies. The platform’s innovative use of technologies like the Golden Thread Audit Trail and blockchain ensures accurate, transparent, and easily accessible fire safety information.
Notably, Operance delivers substantial cost savings by reducing building information creation expenses by 25% below the market rate. Leveraging bespoke data templates and automated processes, it empowers construction companies to optimise operations and minimise expenses. This financial benefit, coupled with a dedication to quality and compliance, solidifies Operance’s position as a leading Contech startup revolutionising the construction industry.
Paperless Construction
Paperless Construction is a cloud-based solution that enables construction companies to digitise health and safety compliance, workforce records, competencies, health and safety training, timekeeping, fatigue and more. This entry focuses on how Paperless Construction (Paperless) worked together with multiple clients on 440 projects across 17 sectors in 2022 to overcome compliance challenges, leading to significant gains in safety performance, productivity and sustainability.
Reactec
Reactec believe in a preventative engineering approach to health and safety risks by applying a powerful combination of workplace wearable technology and cloud-based analytics which empower employers to create a safer work environment. Building upon two decades of risk monitoring expertise, Reactec launched R-Link; a new smart watch, which is robust enough to withstand the rigours of construction sites, while protecting them from the biggest threats to health and safety facing the industry.
Safety Shield Global Ltd and Ardent Hire Solutions
Safety Shield – The worlds first and most advanced collision avoidance system for moving plant and machinery. The system uses AI technology to warn operators of people in the danger zone of moving plant and uses semiautonomous technology to bring the plant to a controlled stop if a collision is imminent. Combined with the Digital Thumbs up it has proven to reduce collisions on site between people and plant.
Winvic Construction Ltd
As a digital pioneer, Winvic has fully embraced BIM and VR and has recognised the tremendous potential of VR technology to deliver Health & Safety training more creatively than ever as part of its Doing It Right programme. In doing so it has created more effective and efficient training processes and enhanced the overall learning experience.
Best Materials Innovation
Leadax Circular Waterproofing
Leadax is an Award-winning SME with a working & sustainable business model in the circular economy. Leadax uses high-tech material & production knowledge for developing and manufacturing 100% circular and sustainable materials out of r-PVB-waste. At the end of its products’ life cycle, it can be recycled and reused as Leadax again. With the production of its waterproofing materials, Leadax tries to solve the problem of 1,5 billion kg of unusable! plastic waste in Europe.
Marshalls
In early 2023 Marshalls PLC became the first UK manufacturer to use Carbon Cure technology in pre-cast concrete. All facing bricks manufactured at Marshalls’ Grove factory now incorporate excess carbon from the fertiliser industry, which would have otherwise entered the atmosphere. This pilot project alone is calculated to permanently lock away 30 tonnes of carbon every year.
Mykor ltd
Mykor develops, manufactures and distributes sustainable building materials. Our product, MykoFoam, is an acoustic and thermal carbon-negative insulation sheet. It is 100% made of renewable and bio-based materials sourced from industrial waste. Our technology presents improved waterproofing and stabilising properties for increased durability, whilst maintaining the breathable and fire-retardant benefits of mycelium insulation. On average we have estimated that we will be able to repurpose 20k tonnes of waste each year.
Prometheus Materials
Prometheus Materials provides sustainable building materials that accelerate the world’s transition to a carbonnegative future. Inspired by nature, their unique process combines naturally occurring microalgae with other essential components to create a bio-cement that serves as a zero-carbon alternative to portland cementbased concrete – one of the most carbon-intensive materials in use today. To learn more about Prometheus Materials and how they are enabling the construction industry to #builddifferent, check out prometheusmaterials.com.
ROCKWOOL UK
NyRock® technology from ROCKWOOL® creates the most thermally efficient stone wool insulation currently available in the UK and Ireland while retaining natural non-combustibility and indefinite recyclability. Developed in response to market demands, NyRock technology delivers lower lambda, non-combustible insulation that meets commercial and environmental objectives too. Launched across three products in 2022, NyRock technology has already been used and widely specified across a range of projects.
Most Innovative Commercial Project – Sponsored by Bricsys
40 Leadenhall Street – Glider & Arcadis
Glider engaged the owner, developer and property management consultancy, Jones Lang Lasalle, by providing training for the soft landings team to increase familiarisation and speed up mobilisation into the new facility. Glider’s services also extend to the operational phase, managing the asset information model, preparing tennant packs and ensuring change is introduced through the Cat B fit outs reflected in the base build model. The gliderbim®-integrated information model combines the 3D model geometry, structured asset data and handover O&M and health and safety file documentation. Together it provides a rich and intuitive experience for post-occupancy use.
Biotech Labs for Recircle – Eatock Design and Build (EDB)
Eatock Design and Build (EDB) created bespoke biotech and rubber laboratories for Recircle, an industrial biotechnology company. EDB transformed Recircle’s workspace, merging cutting-edge lab facilities and modern offices under one roof, quadrupling operational capacity and streamlining processes. Innovative technologies, including advanced material testing instruments and temperature-sensitive experimentation rooms, were incorporated to enhance research capabilities. This innovative space is the UK’s first to unite two distinct lab spaces, fostering collaboration and facilitating the business’s growth.
Technique – B&K Structures
Technique stands out as an imaginative yet sensitive unification of two outdated 20th century industrial buildings into a vibrant new commercial property. Innovative use of exposed structural timber is at the heart of this redevelopment, which has utilised the lightweight benefits of timber to create three additional floors atop the original structure. The result is a BREEAM Excellent building that is on course to be Net Zero within its first year of operation.
Most Innovative Restoration/ Refurbishment Project
Building 84, Cranfield University – RG Carter
Building 84 has demonstrated the future of design within the construction industry, allowing the restoration of a World War II Aircraft Hangars, through innovative design, to be decarbonisation for Cranfield University, whilst retaining the historical integrity and importance of the external façade.
Elizabeth Tower – Sir Robert McAlpine
After 160years of being the nation’s timekeeper, having felt the effects of pollution, weather and war, the Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben, was in need of some serious TLC. With logistical and security concerns that come with working inside the Parliamentary Estate, whilst repairing a world-famous landmark, construction projects don’t come much more pressured than this. Fortunately, complex and challenging heritage-jobs are what the Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects team do best.
Restoration of the Old Post Office Building, Chester – Armstrong B2B
The restoration of the Old Post Office building in Chester’s city centre is testament to the powerful combination of historic preservation and contemporary design. The project celebrates the building’s original features within a state-of-the-art studio space for ArmstrongB2B® that’s both evocative of its storied past and dynamic in its future vision. The project showcases the ingenuity and innovation of the client, while demonstrating the transformative power of design in creating truly remarkable spaces.
The New Paterson Cancer Research Facility, The Christie – Imtech Engineering Services
Imtech are a Tier 1 MEP delivery partner adding value to key customers across several sectors who have a proven track record of providing high-quality engineering services and most recently completed the Paterson Laboratory development in Manchester for Cancer Research, The Christie and the UOM which is set to transform cancer research and improve patient outcomes. Working in collaboration with IHP whom are an established joint venture between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine.
Best Use of Timber on a Construction Project
A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP
Plot 154 is an ultra-contemporary, low energy self-build ‘Batchelor Pad’ located in Graven Hill, Bicester. It’s of hybrid construction and was erected in a matter of days. It’s extremely low energy with a heating demand that is virtually negligible. The materials used for the frame were sustainably sourced lowering the embodied carbon footprint of this exemplary home.
B&K Structures
Situated alongside the Grand Union Canal in West London, The Gramophone Works comprises a mix of refurbished, extended and new-build contemporary office spaces. Retaining the existing concrete elements to the two-storey record factory allowed the project team to integrate the striking property into the historic and social fabric of the surrounding neighbourhood; while at the same time adopting advanced timber technology to help deliver a sustainable and healthy phased development.
Buckland Timber
Buckland Timber’s award entry showcases the Jill Isaac Study Centre, funded by Malcolm Isaac in memory of his wife.
This sustainable timber-framed structure offers a tranquil environment for focused study and quiet reflection for university candidates, beautifully contrasting with the school’s brick buildings. It harmoniously blends with the landscaped courtyard – Siberian larch columns support a domed zinc roof and inside, deep redwood columns create private study booths and a captivating oculus at the centre.
Burmor Construction Ltd
Collaborative working is a dynamic that Burmor Construction see as crucial across all projects; bringing together councils, designers, clients and their team to achieve shared goals, in this case delivering high quality, affordable homes. In collaborative settings like this, open communication and ideas are refined into innovative solutions and projects like California Road are brought to fruition.
Burmor have gone to great lengths to not only ensure sustainable and affordable homes, but transparency and initiative.
William Saunders Partners
Castlehill ReWorks building, is designed for inclusivity to support the vocational education of sustainable principles for children with learning and physical disabilities. Representing its function, the building uses Timber throughout in innovative ways from the structural shell in OSB modular cassettes to the users experience inside and out with biophilic principles a key element of new learning spaces.
Most Sustainable Construction Project
Future Home @ Energy House 2.0 – Bellway
The Future Home @ Energy House 2.0 is a ground-breaking project which could influence how homes in the future are built around the world.
Bellway’s Future Home is a fully functioning house built within a climate-controlled chamber at The University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 facility, where low-carbon innovations are being tested in different temperatures and weather conditions.
The research is supporting the construction of 13 Future Homes by Bellway across the UK.
4 Angel Square, NOMA – Bowmer and Kirkland
A collaborative partnership between MEPC and Bowmer and Kirkland, 4 Angel Square, NOMA in Manchester is one of the most sustainable buildings anywhere in the UK.
One of only 13 UK NABERS Pioneer projects, and the first in the North West, it boasts prestigious credentials including a 5* NABERS rating and BREEAM Outstanding, and is Net Zero as defined by UKGBC.
A best-in-class example of embedding sustainability and innovation in design, construction, and operation.
Merstham Park School – McAvoy
McAvoy is one of the UK and Ireland’s market leaders in the precision manufacture and delivery of high-quality permanent and semi-permanent modular buildings. Merstham Park School is a ground-breaking ‘Low Carbon Pathfinder’ scheme, the learnings from which will strongly influence the design and performance standards for new schools being funded and delivered by DfE. This project met and exceeded all key client requirements and stands as an exemplar for volumetric modular school construction.
Castle Hill – ReWorks Building – William Saunders Architects, Pinnacle Group & Blokbuild
Castlehill ReWorks building, is designed for inclusivity to support the vocational education of sustainable principles for children with learning and physical disabilities. Designed and built to represent its function, it targets passivhaus levels, creating a high energy efficient teaching space using fabric first approach. Timber is used as the primary material, from the internal finish through to the external finish. Built with an innovative insulated structural shell made of OSB.
Best Use of Digital Twin Technology
CoreLogic UK
CoreLogic worked with Newcastle City Council on a Low Carbon Neighbourhood (LCN) pilot project, utilising digital twin technology uniquely combined with retrofit assessments and drone photography to facilitate in-home surveys to plan for whole house retrofitting and neighbourhood-scale decarbonisation. This covered a 228- home neighbourhood. The individual visual property assessments were inset into a high-level drone image of the neighbourhood, creating a complete visual representation of the project area with all media in a single website.
hsbcad
hsbcad’s enables customers to create digital twins of their building projects, allowing them to visualize and simulate scenarios, identify potential issues, and make informed decisions. It also offers advantages such as increased collaboration and communication, early identification of design issues, real-time tracking of project progress, and improved facilities management. hsbcad’s adoption of digital twin technology demonstrates its commitment to innovation, while its cutting-edge solutions drive improved efficiency, cost-savings, and quality in construction projects.
IES
IES created digital twins of three residential blocks in Dublin. It assessed the energy/carbon impact of four retrofit strategies over three time periods, to regenerate the vacant 1960’s buildings. The strategies align with the council’s climate targets for 2030, 2050 and beyond. Results showed that over 60-years, each block can achieve 85% reduction in emissions via deep retrofit. The council is now equipped to make evidence-backed decisions when developing green strategies for refurbishing ageing buildings.
Best Digital Transformation – Sponsored by Revizto
ALICE Technologies
SCS Railways (Skanska Costain Strabag Joint Venture) is delivering the London Tunnels contract for HS2. The Area East team is responsible for the Euston section of the project, where HS2 emerges from the tunnels on its final 0.6-mile route to Euston Station. Significant mitigation works are required to protect the existing urban environment alongside extensive site preparation works. Using AI-powered construction optioneering solution ALICE, the team reduced the programme by 12 months.
IES
IES’s Sleeping Digital Twin process seeks to awaken the many 3D design, compliance and BIM models which exist for much of our current building stock, but are typically underutilised beyond the design phase. Leveraging the full benefits of their digital twin technology suite to unlock improved performance outcomes through into operation and across the entire building lifecycle.
InnDex and Procore
Procore and innDex partnered together to revolutionise construction through the integration of cutting-edge technologies. By combining their expertise, they created a seamless end-to-end solution to streamline Henry Boot Construction’s processes leading to a 59% reduction in induction time and a 50% reduction in core site management. The Cocoa Works project is now the first Henry Boot Construction project to be 100% paperless, setting a new standard for collaboration within the supply chain.
Odense Hospital Project Team
Odense Hospital Project Team played its role in leading implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as industry 4.0 and lean construction while having BIM as a standard practice in the background. Use of digital solutions like IoT devices resulted a huge risk mitigation in large-scale construction site of Odense where the real-time resolution is vital for managing such projects.
Operance
Operance represents a groundbreaking shift in building safety practices, empowering property professionals to create safer spaces. By seamlessly integrating digital technologies like the Golden Thread Audit Trail and machine learning, Operance ensures data accuracy and accessibility. This boosts compliance with legislation and instills confidence in building information.
Collaboration and user-friendliness have fostered strong partnerships with clients and experts, enabling continuous evolution to meet industry needs. As property experts, technologists, and specialists, Operance is a dedicated partner driving positive change in construction.
Rhodar Industrial Services
Due to the digitisation of the above systems, we now have real time information flowing back and forth to site and offices around the country. This has lowered our carbon footprint and improved our data security. Allowing Information to be instantly accessible and has boosted the efficacy and response times including the reporting of EHS reports and responses. The central location of files and data using the cloud gives everyone one central data truth.
Most Innovative New Product (Hardware)
Blokbuild
The Castlehill ReWorks building is designed to foster inclusivity and provide vocational education on sustainable principles for children with learning and physical disabilities. In alignment with its purpose of sustainability and innovation, the building exemplifies these principles through its construction process. The project incorporates BlokBuild’s research and development of faceted cassettes and 2-way spanning roof connections, showcased for the first time in the project’s digitally manufactured, curved timber shell.
ALIMATS Half-Loader Spreader Module – Brilliant Ideas
The ALIMATS® Half-Loader Spreader Module has been designed specifically for use on mobile cranes to achieve a more even load spread, and higher safe working outrigger loads. It spreads the outrigger load across two locations, instead of one, and replaces the need for crane pads. It’s based on an extruded aluminium truss design. It’s been designed by Brilliant Ideas Ltd, inventors and manufacturers of construction safety products.
ALIMATS load spread solution for MEWPS – Brilliant Ideas
ALIMATS® is a metallic modular based handleable mat system. The patented interlocking modules enable load spread, load transfer and access track solutions for MEWPS and other powered access. Adopted by end users and main contractors it improves operational safety, protects the ground when the MEWP’s in action and in some cases enables project completion ahead of schedule, despite further scope being added. Brilliant Ideas Ltd are inventors and manufacturers of safety products specifically for construction.
Rocksilk® RainScreen FFCB – Knauf Insulation
Knauf Insulation is the UK’s largest insulation manufacturer and one of the fastest growing and most respected names in insulation worldwide. It’s latest product innovation, Rocksilk® RainScreen FFCB, is a gamechanger that will revolutionise how cavity barriers are installed behind masonry façades.
HRXE-ZEUS – Domus Ventilation
The HRXE-ZEUS Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system from Domus Ventilation meets ventilation requirements for large residential properties, which require a more powerful system to deliver the airflow required to meet the revised Building Regulations Part F. It represents the next generation in Domus Ventilation MVHRs, with improved performance for even greater efficiency through advanced heat exchange proficiency and an exceptionally low Specific Fan Power (SFP).
Tyneham Air Source Heat Pump – Hamworthy Heating
Compliant with Building Regulations, the Tyneham monobloc air source heat pump from Hamworthy Heating features an outstanding co-efficiency of performance (COP) rating of up to 4.85 and uses R32 refrigerant, to help reduce harmful emissions. Featuring innovative compressor technology to meet heating demands accurately and efficiently, the Tyneham can also be cascaded to achieve higher outputs in larger installations. Compact in size, the Tyneham offers a space-saving, energy-efficient and sustainable solution.
Most Innovative New Product (Digital)
WholeHouse – Travis Perkins
WholeHouse® is revolutionising the housebuilding market, enabling housebuilders to build quality, sustainable homes, easier, faster and without wasting unnecessary time or money. Born from Travis Perkins’ desire to work more closely with Regional Housebuilders, WholeHouse® helps Housebuilders save time and build smarter.
ONE Engage
ONE Engage, co-funded by ONE and Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency, is the first of its kind; an innovative resident engagement platform enabling duty holders to fulfil their obligations under the Building Safety Act. It connects the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), residents and landlords, empowering the residents’ voice in building safety, leveraging digital information management process and data for public good.
Operance
Operance is proud to be developing a completely new, genuine, purpose-built solution to comply with new Building Safety acts, designed and built following extensive legislation research and collaboration with social housing organisations.
Having engaged with housing associations, local authorities, and specialist safety consultants, it is becoming increasingly clear that customers are confused and frustrated with existing software vendor claims of providing a ‘complete golden thread solution’.
Pre-existing and market-leading construction and property management software such as Common Data Environments (CDEs) and Asset Management tools tend to be built from old technology that offers new bolt-on ‘golden thread features’.
Heat3D – Build Test Solutions
Heat3D is a digital app and portable hardware solution that allows you to precisely measure heat flow and Uvalues of walls via a low-cost, quick and non-invasive method. Heat3D can carry out as-built performance measurements of walls to both inform retrofit investment and can be used as a quality assurance tool to check that desired performance outcomes are being achieved.
HP SitePrint – HP Construction Services
HP SitePrint is an end-to-end, easy-to-use suite of technologies designed to automate the site layout process. The main element is a rugged and autonomous robotic device. This robotic solution, including obstacle avoidance, can improve the productivity of layout process up to 10x. It can print lines and complex objects with pinpoint accuracy and consistent repeatability, while text printing brings additional data from the digital model to the construction site.
The Digital Thumbs Up – Safety Shield Global Ltd
Safety Shield – The worlds first Digital Thumbs Up system designed to improve safety on site and reduce incidents associated with people and plant.
measurable.energy – Anglian Water
measurable.energy solution automatically identifies and eliminates wasted energy in buildings (including modular), reducing carbon emissions and electricity bills by at least 20%. measurable.energy achieve this by combining their unique plug sockets with machine learning and software. This allows the sockets to automatically identify devices plugged in, monitor their energy use, report granular real-time data and automatically turn individual or groups of devices on/off to prevent wasted energy.
Most Innovative Contech Start-up
ConWize
ConWize is a cutting-edge cloud-based software utilized today by general contractors, developers, subcontractors, and management companies. Our customers’ biggest challenge in bidding and estimating is entirely solved by a sophisticated yet user-friendly tool, resulting in substantial savings of up to 50% of the time working on a tender while enhancing the accuracy of cost estimations.
Beawre Digital SL
Beawre uses advanced AI to manage risks over business workflows in construction projects, increasing efficiency and enhancing outcomes. Their adaptable solution integrates with existing tools, offering real-time updates and predictions. Recognized for its innovation, Beawre has earned prestigious accolades. As it expands, the firm continues improving its offerings to revolutionize construction risk management.
Inevitech Ltd
Since launching in 2020, Inevidesk is well on its way to achieving its mission of setting a new standard for modern virtual desktop infrastructure in the AEC industry and empowering organisations to work their way. Its high-performance vdesks have become increasingly recognised as an innovative, credible challenger to the offerings of VMware, Microsoft Azure and Citrix, and are empowering organisations to improve their agility, productivity and competitiveness by untethering from fixed workstations.
OpenSpace
OpenSpace is the fastest, easiest way to visually document your construction site—and it’s the simplest, smartest way to understand it. The solution generates Google Street-style views of project sites. A key differentiator is that the OpenSpace solution truly requires little to no extra labour and zero infrastructure: simply attach a 360° camera to your hard hat (or drone), tap “Record” on our app and start walking. OpenSpace does the rest!
Operance
Operance has a robust plan to scale and solidify its position as a leading Contech startup in the construction industry. Our approach encompasses strategic steps to meet the growing demands and requirements of the market.
Firstly, to support the entire UK construction industry, we aim to secure additional investment to fuel our expansion. With increased financial backing, we will grow our team from 20 to over 100 professionals within the next five years. This expanded team will enable us to enhance our platform’s capabilities and provide exceptional support to our clients.
VisiLean Ltd
VisiLean as a Lean-BIM integrated construction management tool helps clients to control their data and manage projects in a timely manner. VisiLean has been working with Mace on the Heathrow Airport expansion projects to help drive their production planning and control processes. This has enabled the team to achieve efficiency across these time-bound projects through project planning and coordination, with savings of up to 60% in time through better work clarity and improved project controls.
Most Innovative SME
AeroBarrierUK
AeroBarrierUK incorporates the latest sealant technology to prevent air leakage and draughts. A waterborne, non-toxic mist is released into a pressurised home where it plugs gaps from 10 microns to 12mm and can guarantee a specific level of airtightness in a property. AeroBarrier is already successfully established in the US, UAE and Canadian markets, where it has helped innovate on tens of thousands of new builds, including hospitals, schools and public buildings.
Build Test Solutions
Build Test Solutions (BTS) provides building performance measurement solutions for the built environment sector. BTS focuses on the importance of measurement to enable wide-scale delivery of truly low-energy buildings. Its goal is to make in-situ building performance measurement cost-effective and accessible to the mainstream building construction, renovation and home improvementsectors.
Kelda Showers
Kelda Showers are the pioneers of innovative Air-Powered showers that use a high-velocity air stream to atomise water into large droplets, creating a shower that uses significantly less water, without compromising experience. The company’s showers have been tested in real-life environments to ensure they can withstand the pressures of high usage, comply with the water supply (water fittings) regulations, feature certified thermostatic mixing valves, and meet all building regulations under the proposed Future Homes Standard.
ONE Creative Environment
Innovation is central to ONE Creative environments’ vision. ONE innovates and uses technology to create added value for clients, to help them achieve their goals and to address Global industry challenges. With many recent innovations, these include ONE Engage – an innovative new resident engagement platform that leverages data for public good to fulfil the requirements of the latest building safety legislation and ONE TwinVis – which helps drive decarbonisation and several other benefits.
Oris
ORIS, the pioneering materials intelligence platform for infrastructure, consolidates data on construction, climate, and materials, encompassing location, properties, and performance in various environments. This platform revolutionises the construction sector by offering a fresh perspective, allowing actors to simulate multiple scenarios and evaluate the impact of infrastructure designs comprehensively. Through data-driven analysis, users gain the ability to make informed decisions that prioritise smart material utilisation and minimise the environmental footprint of construction.
Most Innovative Supplier
Brilliant Ideas Ltd
Brilliant Ideas Ltd are inventors and manufacturers of patented safety products specifically for construction. Chris Massey, the CEO, is the inventor of each product. In all, they own 34 patents. Their innovations are used by some of the biggest names in construction to improve day to day safety, efficiencies, sustainability and compliance on site. Each invention is tried, tested and comes with certifiable paperwork.
Swifix ltd
The SWIFIX Solution is a groundbreaking innovation in External Wall Insulation (EWI). Developed through collaboration with system designers, rigorous testing, and continuous improvement, it revolutionises the way external items are retrofitted to insulated facades. With its ability to minimise thermal bridging and maintain water tightness, SWIFIX sets new standards in EWI practices.
Travis Perkins
WholeHouse® is revolutionising the housebuilding market, enabling housebuilders to build quality, sustainable homes, easier, faster and without wasting unnecessary time or money. Born from Travis Perkins’ desire to work more closely with Regional Housebuilders, WholeHouse® helps Housebuilders save time and buildsmarter.
Most Innovative Contractor
Algeco
Algeco deserves recognition in this category because it was the first to bring the Seismic modular platform to market at the £19.2m Laurence Calvert Academy in Leeds. In doing that, Algeco has broken down barriers between manufacturers, designers and legislators, delivering important building performance and environmental efficiencies in the process. Algeco has even used offsite construction methods to deliver the first Net Zero restaurant in the UK, setting a precedent that will undoubtedly inspire others.
Kier
Through our Digital by Default strategy, Kier have unlocked innovation potential across a multitude of processes, building and technical. Kier recognise the importance of a digital first culture and the critical part this plays in delivering meaningful, measurable innovation. Pioneering thinking such as the formation of a groupwide ‘Digital Council’, consisting of over 30 of our senior leaders across the business, has supported and driven our practical implementation and change in culture and people behaviours.
Three Sixty Ltd
With a foundation in social housing, Three Sixty SHG Ltd. utilises a unique profit-for-purpose business model to develop social impact in our communities. We’re based in the heart of Stockport and are proud to be part of Stockport Homes Group.
Winvic Construction Ltd
Winvic’s focus on innovation and investment in its inhouse resources and expertise reflects a commitment to driving innovation and growth in the industry. By leveraging the power of digital technology to improve project efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver high-quality results, whilst helping to upskill the whole team, as well as the next generation of construction workers, Winvic is well positioned to meet the evolving needs of clients and maintain its position as an industry leader.
Best Technology Partner
ALICE Technologies
ALICE Technologies is the world’s first AI-powered construction optioneering software used by major contractors on high-value, complicated infrastructure projects. Founded in 2015, based on research from Stanford University, ALICE leverages artificial intelligence to analyse a project’s complex building requirements, generate highly efficient building schedules, and adjust those schedules as needed during construction.
Bricsys
Bricsys, a leading technology partner in the building industry, is honored to be shortlisted for the prestigious Building Innovations Awards in the category of Best Technology Partner. With our groundbreaking software solutions and expertise, we have revolutionized the way architects and engineers design and collaborate on projects. Join us in celebrating our innovative contributions to the industry and learn more about how Bricsys is shaping the future of building technology.
Buildots
Buildots is a cutting-edge software solution which gives construction businesses the tools they need to improve their efficiency, leading to enhanced performance and, in turn, profit margins. Buildots analyses data captured via 360-degree cameras using AI models to provide accurate and actionable insights that are then compared with the project’s designs, schedule and budget. The platform is helping transform construction management, enhance resource efficiency, save management time, and avoid costly errors on construction projects worldwide.
hsbcad
hsbcad is a global software solution provider for offsite construction, enabling computer-aided design, offsite manufacturing, onsite assembly, and compliance with Building Information Modelling (BIM) standards. They provide exceptional value to customers by streamlining the entire construction process through their software solutions. hsbcad strives to bring customers closer to the BIM vision and contributes to a more efficient construction process. hsbcad actively engages with customers to build long-lasting partnerships and raise awareness about building with timber.
MA2 Solutions Ltd
MA2 Solutions is the coming together of two companies, one a construction consultancy and the other a software development company, to remove the barriers of growth for smaller construction companies, and to provide innovative solutions to larger construction companies.
Revizto
Revizto is the industry’s first self-identified Integrated Collaboration Platform used by Architects, Engineers, Contractors and Owners to maximize workflows throughout the project lifecycle. The tool empowers teams to drive accountability, mitigate risks, improve timelines and maximize cost-savings via real-time collaboration across platforms, model types and teams, from in-office, on-site, and any device.
SymTerra
SymTerra’s platform allows easy, instant, and intuitive communication across multiple contractors to the same project. Clients, contractors, and subcontractors can now document works via images and video, cross reference assets and activities, and share information instantly. SymTerra is set to resolve a unified pain-point across all construction sites: poor communication. Unlike existing software where information is siloed, we allow site teams to communicate and share updates through flexible pricing and user permissions that reflect how work is delivered.
XYZ Reality
XYZ Reality pioneers the construction sector with the Atom, the most accurate Engineering Grade Augmented Reality headset. Real-time validation and onsite decision-making streamline construction, reducing errors and boosting efficiency. Their fully-managed service fosters collaboration, while their focus on quality assurance saves costs. Achieving up to 9 times ROI, XYZ Reality understands industry challenges and delivers measurable success. With the Atom, construction professionals trust XYZ as their go-to partner for innovative AR solutions.
Innovation Champion 2023
Ian Harding – BIM Section Head Ireland Operations, Jacobs
Ian is a fantastic advocate for innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries with a passion you don’t often see in our industry. His ability to cut through the noise and constant pressure of project delivery to highlight, evaluate and push new technology is industry-leading.
Jim Cowell – UK Technical Director, Algeco
Jim Cowell, UK Technical Director, Algeco, has been instrumental in developing an innovation that is reshaping the offsite construction sector. Jim has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation at Algeco. His approach is to engender innovation on a small level but, significantly, which can be replicated across the whole organisation at scale.
Scott Pilgrim – Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Operance
Scott’s passion to save lives and make buildings a more harmonious place for everyone does not require buy-in from staff or customers. We all embrace and embody that shared vision and that’s why Operance has been so successful. Scott’s innovative leadership style is something the employees of Operance admire and strive to be like. Scott is a visionary fuelled by a passion to make building information better because he has endured the problems we are currently facing.
Operance technology is just one piece of a much larger picture Scott Pilgrim has created, a group of people attempting to solve the construction world’s most difficult problems. That’s innovation.
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