60 seconds with...Bill Ritchie, Director at Atelier Ten and BCO Scottish Judging Chairman

Bill is a fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, he has extensive experience of major public sector projects including schools, housing and hospitals, and commercial projects including offices, shops, cinemas and hotels.

He will be taking on responsibility for the BCO Scottish Awards in 2013, so we spent 60 seconds quizzing him about his judging experiences to date:

How long have you been a member of the BCO and what do you see as a key benefit?

I have been a member for approximately six years and have been involved with the Scottish Chapter Committee for the last four years. I also represent the BCO on the Scottish Property Federation’s Policy Committee for Building Standards and Sustainability.

There are many benefits of membership but learning through the research portal and attending tours are a great way of keeping abreast of the ever changing challenges of good office design.

You have been on the Scottish judging panel for three years, what do you see as the biggest challenge of becoming Chairman?

The judging process has been well-honed over the years and, in my experience, provides a great deal of rigour to what otherwise could be quite a subjective process. The biggest challenge is to ensure that there is a healthy competition. Last year’s regional results demonstrated that competent well delivered schemes win awards – not necessarily the most expensive projects.

What is the hardest part about being a BCO judge?

The most difficult element is having to select only one winner in each category. I can recall on a number of occasions wishing to recognise more than one scheme. Timing can be the key to success and a number of schemes have not been awarded due to the number of entries in a category in that particular year. There is no enjoyment in seeing some great developments going unrewarded.

What is the best part about being a BCO Judge?

The best part has to be the license to see and hear what the best in the industry is doing. It is tantamount to industrial espionage! I also really enjoy the open debates between judges hearing what appeals to each member of the panel.

The Entry Guide asks entrants to describe how the office lifts spirits, is there a past awards entry that made a particular positive impact on you? And if so, why was this?

I think this is one of the most important questions which we ask. The office environment has seen many changes from the drab grey interiors of the 70’s. We are witnessing a transformation in office design with offices becoming colourful – even fun spaces which encourage communication and enhance productivity. Virgin Money’s award winning refurbishment on Charlotte Square in Edinburgh last year was of particular note where a respectable St Andrew Square historic and listed building was transformed into a contemporary space which the client, staff and visitors clearly enjoy. Hard Rock Cafe style Virgin branded memorabilia adorn the main staircase and visitors lounge, which looks more akin to a boutique hotel.

What advice would you give someone planning to submit an entry for the 2013 Awards?

Go for it! The application process has been streamlined this year and we are working to give more prominence and publicity to those who participate. Given the current economic climate, the number of entries is expected to stabilise so there has never been a better opportunity to win a coveted cube!

What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out as a BCO Judge?

Be yourself. Each judge is picked to bring their own particular knowledge and experience to bear and this is the key to ensuring that the review is as broad an assessment as possible. (My other advice would be get in training – four days in a van with little time to eat, drink or check emails can be punishing!)

Who/what has most inspired you in the Commercial Property Sector?

There are many great sources of inspiration that we see through judging or attending tours. Design teams are using more sophisticated simulation packages to deliver low energy or fire engineered solutions whilst architects and interior designers are constantly raising the bar delivering more flexible and creative environments.

What couldn’t you live without in your daily routine?

I am lucky with a very understanding wife and two teenage children who still have some time for me! We endeavour whenever possible to catch up over our evening meal together – although that seems to be getting later and later these days.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I am a terrible Karaoke singer but that doesn’t stop me giving the odd and very bad rendition of Kenny Roger’s Ruby!

60 seconds with...Chris Kimber-Nickelson, Head of Development Management at MEPC and BCO South West, Thames Valley & South Wales Judging Chairman

Chris is responsible for driving forward MEPC's development arm of the business; all development and refurbishment projects through inception to completion; and maintaining MEPC's development management systems at the leading edge of best practice.

He will be taking on responsibility for the BCO Awards in the South West, Thames Valley & South Wales in 2013, so we spent 60 seconds quizzing him about his judging experiences to date:

How long have you been a member of the BCO and what do you see as a key benefit?

I have been a member of the BCO for 3 years now. The main benefit is being able to share open discussion across the broad range of property and construction related issues with respected peers in the industry.

You have been on the South West judging panel for three years, what do you see as the biggest challenge of becoming Chairman?

This will undoubtedly be the coordination of 4 very busy property professionals.

What is the hardest part about being a BCO Judge?

Taking in and processing all of the information that is imparted to you in the brief time you have to see each entry…and the travelling!

What is the best part about being a BCO Judge?

Meeting enthusiastic and committed project team members who are genuinely excited, and rightly proud, about the clever and innovative ways in which they have delivered good office space….and the cakes!

The Entry Guide asks entrants to describe how the office lifts spirits, is there a past awards entry that made a particularly positive impact on you? And if so, why was this?

My personal favourite of all the entrants was the Aardman Animations office in Bristol. The attention to detail was immense and I would love to work in a building where Wallace is the voice of the lift!

What advice would you give someone planning to submit an entry for the 2013 Awards?

You need to cover all the bases as the general standard is high. BCO compliance and good environmental standards are ‘givens’ now and where projects win is when they demonstrate how they have gone the extra mile in several different ways.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out as a BCO Judge?

It is not an undertaking to be taken lightly. They are long days, it is hard to carve out the time, and your fellow judges will likely be up for a good spirited debate!

Who/what has most inspired you in the Commercial Property Sector? 

I think that there are a number of inspirational ‘placemaking’ projects such as the redevelopment of Kings Cross and the Mills Bakery Royal William Yard in Plymouth which the judges visited this year. These types of project can make a real community difference across a much wider area than the site alone.

What couldn't you live without in your daily routine?

I am a bit of a Blackberry addict, but I would love to live without it!

What is your guilty pleasure?

One of my hobbies is Morris dancing…it doesn’t get much more embarrassing than that!

60 seconds with...Nigel Clark, Technical Director at Hilson Moran and Chairman of the BCO London & South East Regional Judging Panel

Nigel has been involved in the design and construction of buildings for over 30 years. He has considerable experience in the energy performance of buildings, façade design solutions and the application of low and zero carbon and renewable technologies and regularly provides advice on all aspects of building design in the UK, Europe and the Middle East with an emphasis on tall buildings and environmentally progressive buildings.

He became Chairman for the London and South East BCO Judging panel in 2012 and following his first year as Chairman we spent 60 seconds finding out more about his experience as a judge and what drives him in his career:

How long have you been a member of the BCO and what do you see as a key benefit?

As a company, we have been members of the BCO since 2001, although my own individual membership dates from 2007. As a significant proportion of our work revolves around commercial offices, the BCO is a very relevant and influential organisation to us. It’s for that reason that I was happy to contribute to both the Guide to Specification and the Fit Out Guide, as I think they are important documents that set the standard for developers, designers and occupiers to compare themselves against.

You have been on the London and South East judging panel for two years and Chairman for one, what has been your favourite moment so far?

It’s really difficult to try and pick a favorite moment because I have genuinely enjoyed the whole experience so far. I think the number of people who have said they would like to put themselves forward as Judges next year must rate highly in my series of favourite moments as it means the importance of the Awards is increasing every year, if more and more people are willing to commit the time necessary to be a Judge.

What is the hardest part about being a BCO Judge?

I think short listing from the submissions is very difficult and it’s really important that as Judges we are as diligent as possible in arriving at the list of buildings which are to receive a visit.  All the entrants will have done a lot of work to submit their entry and not to be shortlisted will inevitably be disappointing to them.  The other aspect is trying to get around almost 40 buildings in five days, it’s a very intensive schedule which needs to be organised with almost military like precision. I will never forget the itinerary I saw in my first year of judging, in some cases we had five minutes to get from one building to the next, but we managed it in four!

What is the best part about being a BCO Judge?

I think it has to be the opportunity to see a wide range of buildings which I probably wouldn’t get to see in any other way. Being able to view what others are achieving is a great way of seeing how you are really doing compared to others. Also it’s good to have the opportunity to meet other colleagues and professionals that you haven’t had the chance to work with previously.

The Entry Guide asks entrants to describe how the office lifts spirits, is there a past awards entry that made a particularly positive impact on you? And if so, why was this?

The one entry that I will never forget is the Graeae Theatre Company, which is a disabled-led theatre company in Hackney.  It was only a small project, entered in the Projects up to 2000sqm category, but seeing what had been achieved on a tight budget and feeling the passion of the users and their excitement at having a new home was about as inspirational as it gets.  The fact it became the national winner as well as the regional winner must have meant others felt the same.  The attention to detail and the innovative ways that colour, light, touch and even smell had been used to give all the users, whatever their disability or impairment ways of moving around and using the building was just amazing.  I think all the judges felt the same as when we came out; we all looked at each other, not quite knowing how to put it into words.

What advice would you give someone planning to submit an entry for the 2013 Awards?

With the quality of the entries always being so high, it is really important that the written entries highlight the unique aspects of their project that set them apart from the competition. Because of the number of entries we get in the L&SE Region, we always have to shortlist on the basis of the submissions only, so it is really important for entrants to set out their unique points in a clear, concise and easy to read manner. The spread of questions will give everyone the opportunity to put forward whatever aspect of their project they feel goes beyond just good practice.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out as a BCO Judge?

My advice would be to try and look behind the words or smart desktop publishing of a submission and look for something that is genuinely innovative or unusual and sets them apart from the competition. The Awards are meant to reward best practice and this can come in so many forms, it can take a bit of digging to find it sometimes.  I think that’s why it is so important to have a mix of skills on the judging panel, as everyone spots something different, so collectively, hopefully we don’t miss anything.

Who/what has most inspired you in the Commercial Property Sector? 

There have been a number of people who have inspired me over the years but I wouldn’t want to pick out individuals although they all had a few things in common. Firstly they all had a fantastic understanding of what was necessary to make a project special, way beyond their own individual background or training, and secondly they were incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about what they did and obviously enjoyed every second of it.  That type of passion brings out the best in everyone involved and being part of a team with that type of drive is a great feeling and inspires you to strive for even better things.

What is your guilty pleasure?  (Something you enjoy but feel a bit guilty for. Possibly an embarrassing taste, whether it be music, fashion, food etc)

I gave up long ago feeling guilty about doing anything I enjoy, others will have to take me as they find me, I guess it’s one of the advantages of getting older. My son plays inline roller hockey at a high level and having been a taxi driver most weekends whilst he was a teenager, I can’t really give it up, so now help out with managing one of the youth teams and often find myself being team Waterboy to the seniors. Despite all the wisecracks I get, I wouldn’t miss it for anything when you watch a group of youngsters really working hard for each other and enjoying success through sheer hard team work, it’s an important life lesson I hope they never forget.

NextGen Summer Social @ The Oast House Manchester

Paul Norbury, Director, 5plus architects
Chair of the Northern NextGen Committee writes...

Last night, Thursday 09 August, over 60 guests attended our first summer social in the Northern Region. It was a great night and one which enabled us to meet colleagues in the commercial property sector in a very informal and relaxed manner. 

This event marked the end of the first year since the establishment of NextGen in the Northern Region and it was good to see an appetite for more. As mentioned in my welcome speech our first year was very much focussed on the BCO conference, hosted in Manchester on 23-25 May, and moving forward it is our intention to create a varied programme of relevant tours and seminars for the NextGen audience.

The committee will shortly be launching a series of building visits looking at the creative re use of former industrial buildings as workplaces. Our proposed sites include; The Toffee Factory (Newcastle), Tower Works (Leeds) and the Sharp Project (Manchester). Do post comments to this post if you have any questions or issues you would like raised at any of these events.

If you want to be the first to hear when bookings open then I would encourage you to sign up to our mailing list. Email events@bco.org.uk with your name & contact details and we'll do the rest.

We look forward to seeing you soon and in the meantime here are a few shots from last night's event. You can see the full album at www.facebook.com/BCOSocial

The sun shone on Spinningfields for our first Summer Social.

@TheOastHouseMcr provided a great spread of bohemian food in a bespoke venue.

NextGeners relaxing in the Beer Garden

A few of my colleagues from 5plus architects network with other NextGen members

Inside at the Oast House, a great venue in Manchester's Spinningfields

We weren't the only ones enjoying the sun at The Oast House. 
(You can see the venue for our next tour in the background, Tower 12. Sign up to our emails to find out more.)

kindly sponsored by

NextGen Summer Social - Manchester 

Thrusday 09 August 2012 (18.00)
The Oast House, Spinningfields
Manchester

Interested in finding our more about BCO NextGen? Click here to visit www.bco.org.uk

Benefitting from BIM (Birmingham)

Richard Pearce, Associate at Arup 

and member of the NextGen Midlands Committee writes...

The BCO NextGen Midlands Committee hosted their first “out of town” event at The Arup Campus in Solihull. The event titled "Benefitting from BIM” attracted attendees from across the sector include interior designers, architects, project managers, and contractors. 

The first speaker, Colin Magner (BIM Manager at Arup), explained some of the principles behind BIM and how, as an industry, there has long been a need to provide a more integrated process for delivery. Colin explained that BIM is far more than 3D modelling; with the information that is stored in the model being of value to designers, contractors and ultimately end users. “One version of the truth” is the focus, with drawings, schedules, and specification data all originating from the same model. Change the lighting on the layout view and the associated schedules change automatically. 

Colin explained how Arup see the best value in BIM when all parties start designing in BIM early, say at RIBA stage C. BIM is all about collaboration so it’s important to remember the needs of others in developing the model. 

Richard Hartigan, Senior Associate at Eversheds, attracted a number of questions following his presentation on the Legal Implications of a BIM environment. Richard highlighted that it was key to identify the legal issues at the outset of the project to ensure that they could be suitably covered in contract. A key message was that although only the JCT form of contract refers to BIM, the principles of our legal system are well set up to deal with issues that may arise under Joint and Several Liability. 

Richard picked up on Colin’s introduction to the BIM coordinator role, and highlighted that this new appointment would introduce a multitude of practical and commercial issues including, scope of services, powers and timing. 

The third and final speaker was Richard Draper from Birmingham City University. Following the development of the BIM for phase 1 of their City Centre Campus, Richard was employed by the University as their BIM manager. Richard explained how the University were early adopters of BIM and how that came with challenges particularly around implementation and procurement. 

Richard explained that one of the key drivers for implementing BIM was the University’s requirement to move to a more pro-active / preventative maintenance regime to improve their service to their internal clients. They included the requirement for the contractor to provide the University with an as-built BIM. The contractor will be delivering a 3D asset and facilities management software package that integrates with the BIM and provides the University with a single source for all of the associated data. 

The University have mandated BIM on the 2nd phase of the City Centre Campus which is currently out to Tender. With the development of the industry over the past two years, Richard is expecting to see further developments in the capabilities of the contractors and a more interactive tool delivered at completion. Richard also confirmed that the University is now looking to record its existing estate in BIM using 3D laser scanning to create a point cloud that will be delivered as a 3D model. 

Through experience it would seem that BIM will soon be touching everyone involved with the built environment. With the continuing development of the software tools available to designers, more robust contracts suited to collaborative working, and the delivery of easily accessible interactive FM platforms it seems that we can all benefit from BIM. 

kindly supported by        

Benefitting from BIM

Wednesday 13 June 2012 (17.30)
The Arup Campus, Blythe Valley Park,
Solihull, West Midlands

Interested in finding our more about BCO NextGen? Click here to visit www.bco.org.uk

 

60 seconds with...Richard Francis, Director - Environment & Sustainability, Gardiner & Theobald Chair of the BCO Environmental Sustainability Group (ESG)

Richard Francis takes over as chairman of the BCO Environmental Sustainability Group (ESG) in Summer 2012. He leads the sustainability team, at Gardiner & Theobald, and is an expert in providing strategic sustainability advice from a business perspective.

How long have you been involved with the BCO and what do you see as the key strengths?

I have been involved with the BCO for three years as a member of the ESG.

The BCO has numerous strengths that are recognised not only in the UK but across the world – it provides the gold standard for work on offices. It has a well-recognised ability to bring together individuals with unparalleled experience who are eager to share their knowledge and confront common challenges. That is a pretty unusual combination.

The BCO is a first class organisation pursuing innovation in a country that is determined to be ahead of the curve in sustainability. Who could ask for a better assignment than to help guide this change?

Earlier this month you took over the role of chair for the BCO ESG from Paul Edwards. What would you like to achieve in this role?

It was great to work with Paul and to see him develop and reach a clear set of forward-looking research goals – I learned a lot from him and other members of the committee.

As we move forward, I would like the BCO to become the go-to organisation for providing the industry with evidence-based, actionable intelligence that BCO members and others can trust. Compliance can be difficult and costly, but BCO members will need to think beyond merely meeting standards in order to effectively prosper in an evolving and more sophisticated market.

The moral and the fiscal are converging and the lesson of carbon is that “soft issues” can have hard edges. The ground is shifting under our feet. I would like BCO members to not only avoid the risks but also profit from the opportunities that are here now and will continue to emerge.

What do you see as the main purpose of the ESG within the BCO?

To provide realistic, honest, rigorous analysis of the sustainability issues affecting BCO members and to help them simplify what is an unnecessarily complex subject.

When it comes to sustainability, members of the BCO should ask themselves three simple questions: Where am I now? Where do I need to be? How do I get there?

The main purpose of the BCO ESG is to help members answer these questions in a way that minimises costs, maximises (fiscal and environmental) benefits and adheres to the scrutiny given other business decisions. 

What do you see as the main challenge for the industry regarding the environment & sustainability?

What the industry needs most is to systematically incorporate feedback, and learning, into new projects. We can be highly imaginative and innovative in theory and design, but our understanding of actual outcomes and our implementation of improved processes lags other industries. Consequently, we invest a great deal of time and money at the front end without appreciating or understanding the consequences, and sometimes make the same mistakes long after we should have known better.

As an industry we have a great understanding of potential but a poor understanding of performance – reinforced by regulation and market drivers that can reward appearance rather than reality. The financial and environmental price for this is high.

The biggest challenge is to find cost-effective, easily implemented solutions that will ease the burden on businesses and lead to actual reductions in impacts.

The industry has to answer the same three questions as raised above: Where are we now? Where do we need to be? How do we get there? At the moment, that last – and perhaps most important - question remains less clear than it should be. 

If you had the power to change one thing within the property industry, what would it be?

I would change the perception in the industry to focus more on what buildings do rather than what they are, particularly with regards to sustainability. Sustainability must be about achieving real results rather than cleverly meeting prescriptive requirements. This is not just in energy, water and waste, but in helping buildings achieve their mission – optimising the experience of occupants. Sustainable hospitals can and should heal people faster, sustainable schools should enable students to learn better and sustainable offices should enable healthy and productive workers.

We know our buildings can do more – and we need to realise the integrated benefits of buildings that help achieve purpose. We are beginning to see occupiers reward these building and I would like to see this trend accelerate. 

Who has most inspired you in the Commercial Property Sector?

There are many people I look up to in the Commercial Property Sector, so it is difficult to isolate a single person. There are a lot of people who have been pushing sustainability in the industry for a long time and who have enabled the changes we see today.

I am thinking of people like Angus McIntosh, Derek Clements-Croome, Ken Yeang and Paul McNamara – all of whom have contributed to the BCO greatly over the years. They are usually people with one foot in industry and another in research who have a gift for teaching and have helped bring important ideas into the commercial marketplace.

To get to know these individuals in the last few years has been a great privilege. They have been very kind to me as I have started my professional life here in the UK. 

What’s your favourite office development in the UK? And why?

Actually, I have two favourite developments that are seemingly unlike each other but have a common theme.

The first is The Co-operative’s new head office in Manchester. The building has the highest BREEAM rating possible, will have EPC and DEC ratings of “A” and is designed to promote the health and wellbeing of its occupants.

The second is The Carrochan, the headquarters for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority. This building is a winner of the Carbon Trust Low Carbon Building Award and the BCO National Award winner. It uses cost-effective, locally available renewable energy, the finest local and sustainable materials and a design that is sympathetic to the landscape and the local community.

Two very different buildings achieving very different missions, but proving to be best in class at what they provide. 

What is your guilty pleasure?

I have a small, old motorboat that I use for fishing and clamming back where I am from on Cape Cod. Friends and colleagues tell me that I should be sailing, as this is the more environmentally friendly alternative. I like sailing, but sometimes it can be a little boring (just like sustainability consultants), especially when the fish are biting. My sailing skills are no match for a fast-moving school of bluefish and striped bass.

What couldn’t you live without in your daily routine?

Hearing what my little boy has been up to during his day.

He reminds me of that most important of questions:“Why?”

60 seconds with...John Shepherd, Whiteburn Holdings and Chairman of the BCO Scottish Judges

A chartered civil engineer, John has worked in a variety of consultancy, contracting and now development roles, as Managing Director of Whiteburn Holdings – a family owned property development and investment company, based in Edinburgh. Read his full bio here.

John is stepping down as Chairman of the Scottish Judges this year, so we've taken the opportunity to ask him about his experience as a BCO Judge...    



How long have you been a member of the BCO and what do you see as a key benefit?

About 10 years. BCO provides a great forum for engaging with other developers, occupiers, financiers, builders and consultants in the office development industry across the UK.

You were a BCO Judge for the National panel in 2007 before joining the Scottish Judging panel in 2009, what will be your favourite memory of being a BCO Judge?

The camaraderie generated within a group of diverse professionals, focussing together for a day or two at a time on a variety of project outcomes (and not all good!).

What is the hardest part about being a BCO Judge?

The number and diversity of entries to be visited, interrogated, debated and scored in a short time can leave the head spinning by the end of each day – it’s a full-on (but stimulating) process.

What is the best part about being a BCO Judge?

The chance to get “out of the house”, meet and see what other people are doing first hand, how they’re collaborating and innovating in order to provide better places to work.

What advice would you give someone planning to submit an entry for the 2013 Awards?

Don’t hold back, be clear about the aims of the project and what extra steps the team went to for the benefit of the occupiers and wider stakeholders.

Who/what has most inspired you in the Commercial Property Sector? 

I think what Stanhope achieved in the 1980’s at Broadgate and elsewhere, introducing bold and efficient US construction strategies and realising public as well as commercial benefits by developing over transport hubs, has laid the foundations for some of the exciting developments spearheading London’s current boom.

What couldn’t you live without in your daily routine? 

My wife’s fantastic cooking of course!

What is your guilty pleasure?

I’m fascinated by Russia (and in slight trepidation) having crossed much of it on a motor bike and returning by train last year – so reading Tolstoy and listening to Shostakovich at the moment. 

The expertise and commitment shown by our Judges is superb and helps to make the BCO Awards one of the most rigorous judging processes and, therefore, worthwhile in the property industry. If you are interested in becoming a BCO Judge then please click here for further information and details on how to apply.