The RICS Awards is intended to celebrate the work of RICS members and other professions contributing to the built environment.
Our senior surveyor Jodie Pritchard has been involved with the RICS Awards Wales judging panel for the last two years. It has been an opportunity to visit different locations and consider the contribution that the built environment has on our lives, and the innovations and evolution of the work that surveyors and others working in the sector are delivering.
It has also been an opportunity to sample cake at various locations which as her colleagues know is a favourite pastime both in and out of work!
In North Wales it has involved visiting both old and new buildings including Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda; Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd; M-SParc, Menai Science Park, Gaerwen, Anglesey; Coed Pella, Conwy County Borough Council Civic Offices, Colwyn Bay; and Coed y Bleiddiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog.
2019 Winning entry
The picture above is of the 2019 Grand final Building conservation category winner was Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny – the judging panel were very impressed by the standard of work carried out and the attention to detail employed by those involved.
2020 Awards
The awards have been revamped slightly with a change to categories which could be more interesting for the rural property world. A new category of ‘Land and Rural’ has been added with all 9 categories being judged through the following criteria;
- Positive Social Contribution
- Human Impact
- Community involvement
- Wider community benefit
- Sustainability
- Inclusive design principles
- Excellence in cost, value and delivery
- Innovation, creativity, intelligence
- Collaboration among team
The 2020 categories are:
- Land and Rural
- Leisure
- Heritage
- Infrastructure
- Residential
- Commercial
- Education
- Healthcare
- Student Accommodation
Ideas for Entries for 2020
In 2019 Northern Ireland winning entries included a leisure site called Let’s Go Hydro. This is a new water sports and activity resort developed on an existing reservoir site. Another 2019 Northern Ireland entry was for the Mourne Wall Restoration Project which won the project of the year category. RICS judges commended the collaboration between stakeholders to overcome the many challenges in completing the project, whilst working to minimise impact on the environment so future generations can enjoy this exceptional landmark.
Do you have a project that you think deserves recognition for its design, complexity, collaboration, ingenuity or community involvement/benefit?
There is a cost to enter but it is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of all involved from the land owner, the developer, the builder, the surveyor and others. Please visit the RICS webpage for further information.
The deadline is 31st January 2020 – Get your entries in!
