Record entries for RICS Awards 2007
22nd February 2007
RICS Awards 2007 has received a record number of entries, with an overwhelmingly positive response from locations around the UK and overseas.
With an increase on 2006 of 14%, the standard of entries has been exceptional.
Representing a full spectrum of organisations and projects worldwide, the 298 entrants range from small schemes achieved by the vision and persistence of one person, to multi-million budget, globally recognised developments.
Entries have been submitted from universities, local and national government, private sector developers and national bodies.
In addition to the high volume of UK entries, projects from Hong Kong, the Netherlands, South Africa and Yemen have also been submitted.
RICS Awards 2007 consists of four categories: Building conservation; Regeneration; Sustainability and Community benefit.
Regeneration has proved the most popular category this year, having attracted 32% of entries, followed by:
- Community benefit (26%)
- Building conservation (23%)
- Sustainability (an encouranging 19%) of total entries.
The awards celebrate the best new projects in the built environment and the 2007 winners will join a long line of inspirational building projects.
Past winners have included prestigious projects such as:
- The Bullring in Birmingham, England
- London's Royal Opera House
- The Eden Project in Cornwall, England
- The site of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia
Mirroring the 2006 approach, 2007 will see schemes competing in UK regional heats, with the best entrants in each region forming the shortlist for the international awards.
Yorkshire and Humberside and the North East regions have attracted the highest volume of entries to date, with 51 and 33 projects respectively.
Other well-represented regions include the South East with 32 projects and Wales with 31.
Judging will take place during Spring 2007 and will be followed by a series of regional ceremonies culminating in the final ceremony in London in October 2007.
Louis Armstrong, RICS CEO comments:
"The RICS Awards are a perfect showcase for diversity and creativity in the built and natural environment.
"Successful entrants will need to prove that their schemes demonstrate excellence within their specific category, and that their projects have made a positive contribution to people's lives.
"In particular, they should demonstrate how RICS members have used their skills to develop, regenerate and conserve the world in which we live, work and play.
"The 2007 entries reaffirm the RICS Awards as the leading awards programme in its field."
For more on RICS Awards, visit rics.org/awards.
