Pioneering Contribution to sustainability secures BWTC prestigious international award
Bahrain: 18 November 2009: Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC), the world's first building to ever integrate large-scale commercial wind turbines into a mixed-use development, has announced its win of the prestigious 2009 NOVA Award in Innovation.
The prestigious NOVA awards identify projects that have been proven to display significant technological advances and have had positive, important effects on construction to improve quality and reduce cost. The BWTC's win was announced at the NOVA Award Banquet on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at Buena Vista Palace resort in Orlando, Florida, USA.
As the world's first proven example of wind turbines being incorporated into a commercial building, the Bahrain World Trade Center was an ideal candidate for the judging panel. Officially certified by Bahrain's Electricity Distribution Directorate (EDD) early in 2009, the three 29-metre diameter turbines are fully operational and are currently supplying 11-15% of the 50 storey office towers' energy requirements.
Bob Addison of DTZ, the BWTC's Managing and Leasing agents, commented: "Winning a NOVA award from the renowned Construction Innovation Forum is clear evidence that the Bahrain World Trade Center has made an extraordinary contribution to the technological progress within the region's construction industry, especially in relation to the built environment, a fact which was recognised by the jury. We are pleased to see the BWTC raising Bahrain's profile internationally, and becoming a true landmark for the Kingdom's progress."
Bahrain's familiar twin towers are on the cusp of international sustainability agendas, and are well known as one of the catalysts in changing the approach of Middle East developers towards a future of energy-efficient design.
Designed by Atkins, the world's eighth largest design firm, the iconic building is the first in the world to suspend electricity-generating wind turbines between two commercial tower structures, surpassing existing construction boundaries.
"The Bahrain World Trade Center sets a technological precedent which we hope raises the awareness of environmental design and its importance in the built environment and we hope it paves the way for designers and clients to incorporate renewables and energy efficient measures into their future developments to reduce carbon emissions."
Said Shaun Killa, Design Director, Atkins
Constructing Killa's 'world first' design which was untried and untested, took an extraordinary amount of investigative research and analysis. Atkins assembled a world-class research team including Richard Smith, Atkins' principal authority on sustainability and MEP engineering, and Danish companies Norwin A/S as turbine specialists and Ramboll A/S, bridge engineering experts.
Previous accolades include:
- Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats 2008
- Winner of 2008 'Best Tall Building Awards' MENA region
- Building Exchange Awards 2008
- Sustainability Award Winner
- Building Design Awards 2008
- Architect of the Year Award Winner
- Construction Week Awards 2008
- Tower Project of the Year Award Winner
- Popular Science 2008
- Winner Engineering Award
- EDIE Award for Environmental Excellence 2007
- Building Award Winner
- LEAF Awards 2006
- Green Building Award Winner
The NOVA judging panel consisted of both industry leaders and technical specialists and were selected because of their strong reputation within the construction industry. Members of the panel include Dennis King, CEO at Harley Ellis, Dr David Pittman, Director at the US Army Research and Development Center and James Hughes, Executive Vice President at Conesco Industries.
The NOVA Award is an annual award instituted by the Construction Innovation Forum (CIF) since 1989, to recognise innovations proven to be significant advances that have had positive, important effects on construction to improve quality and reduce cost.
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About Bahrain World Trade Center
Situated on the Manama waterfront and in the heart of the region's leading financial and business hub, the Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) project comprises the two 50-storey sail shaped twin office towers, the five-star Sheraton Hotel as well as MODA Mall, Bahrain's only ultra high-end shopping destination, featuring some 160 luxury retail outlets as well as a host of modern cafes and exciting fine dining eateries.
The BWTC provides leading regional and international organizations with a world-class business address. The buildings are highly advanced in design and operation and are the Kingdom's first intelligent offices, employing the latest SMART systems capable of delivering unsurpassed security and maximum competitive advantages and efficiency in office management. In addition, they are the first of their kind in the world, using wind energy to provide 11 - 15% of the electricity needs of the office towers.
Other benefits enjoyed by local and international businesses occupying space at the development is membership to the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA). Locating at the BWTC offers an exceptional opportunity for connectivity with the global business community. With more than 300 centers in 100 countries, WTCA has a membership of approximately 750,000 commercial enterprises worldwide.
ABOUT ATKINS
Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) plans, designs and enables the delivery of complex capital programmes for clients in the public and private sectors across the globe. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe; the largest engineering consultancy in the UK; and the world's eighth largest design firm.
Atkins' current projects include:
- Design and programme management of the civil works for the Dubai Metro red and green lines
- High profile resort developments, such as Durrat Al Bahrain, a spectacular 20 sq km seaside city resort on the south coast of Bahrain comprising 13 man-made islands
- Award-winning architectural landmarks such as the Bahrain World Trade Center
- Ground breaking industry enterprises such as Manama's Tabreed Cooling Plant
- Major infrastructure works, including the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Olympics
Atkins was named among the "20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2008' by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2007; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2008. The company was also sector winner in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards for the second successive year in 2007.
ABOUT THE NOVA AWARD
The NOVA Award was instituted by the Construction Innovation Forum in 1989 to recognise innovations that have proven to be significant advances and have had positive, important effects on construction to improve quality and reduce cost.
NOVA Awards have been awarded to advances in all areas of the construction industry, including innovations in the construction process, and in materials, design, detailing, fabrication, equipment, procurement, contract administration, management, labor relations, training, and safety that improve the construction process. The NOVA Award has also recognised projects for their innovative concepts and methods.
The Nova Awards are presented by the Construction Innovation Forum at its Innovation Celebration Banquet each year.
CIF has presented more than 80 NOVA Awards to innovations involving 12 countries: Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Great Britain, Holland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States. The more than 600 nominated innovations from more than 20 countries are described in the CIF Nomination index.
About CIF
The Construction Innovation Forum (CIF) is an international, non-profit organisation formed in 1987 to recognise and encourage innovation that improves the quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness of construction.
For press information contact:
Neena Punnen
Hill and Knowlton
Tel: +973 17539514
Fax: +973 17533370
Email: neena.punnen@hillandknowlton.com
© Press Release 2009
