Foreword
The BCO Awards justify their premier status in part because of the quality of entries but equally due to a judging process that looks beyond the architectural merit to function and fitness for purpose.
Judges look for excellence in architecture, clarity of purpose from those commissioning the building, ingenuity of the product, clever design solutions, delivery on time and budget and that special aspect of a project that makes it a delightful and productive place of work. Quite rightly, a lot of emphasis is placed on the ability of the workplace to support occupiers’ business needs and, of course, an attention to sustainability that occupiers increasingly expect as standard.
The BCO Awards act as a snapshot of the way offices are changing to meet new demands. If you accept, as we do, that the UK leads the world in best practice, they also provide a wider insight into the workplace of tomorrow.
Throughout this book you will see case studies defining best practice from six years’ worth of entries. Researchers at Davis Langdon took on the job of analysing over 500 entries to find key trends and progressions from this period. Some trends may seem obvious – added emphasis on sustainable and energy efficient buildings – but others may be surprising.
Each chapter draws together a selection of award entrants that demonstrate innovations and good practice in a particular area from the workplace through to structure.
“Good Office Design” is a culmination of over a year’s worth of research and analysis and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in putting this book together. Special thanks, of course, goes to all those who have entered the BCO Awards. Without their input this book would not be possible.