BCO NextGen Competition 2017, Imagining Office of 2035, MRC Architecture Contest News
BCO NextGen Competition
International Architectural Contest run by British Council for Offices / Malcolm Reading Consultants
16 Nov 2017
BCO NextGen Competition Winner
BCO NextGen reveals winning vision for ‘the office of 2035’
Team 88mph wins ideas competition for young professionals by reimagining a typical Victorian terrace as flexible future workspace
The British Council for Offices (BCO) announced the winner of its NextGen ideas competition for young professionals at an awards dinner in central London.
The winning team – known as 88mph – was made up of: Annabel Koeck – Project Architect, Grimshaw; Jennifer Barnes – Curator and Project Manager, Futurecity; Laura Hannigan – Engineer, Associate, AKTII; and Amelia Maxwell – Finance and Commercial Manager, Lendlease.
Responding to a brief which asked competitors to consider ‘the office of 2035: what will it look like, and how will it support the way we will work?’, 88mph’s concept – ‘The Dynamo’ – reimagines a typical Victorian terrace in London as the headquarters for a major energy company.
The concept preserves the existing façades while incorporating reconfigurable interior space and a rooftop garden with staff allotments, a performance space and a meditation garden. The back of the building is conceived as an ‘energy backpack’ with accessible services.
The design envisages a future with increased transport connectivity throughout the UK resulting in a decentralised workforce. 88mph’s flexible concept allows the business to maintain a visible ‘front door’ in the capital while enabling and enhancing remote and freelance working.
Ken Shuttleworth, Founding Director of Make Architects, BCO President and competition jury member, said:
‘I am delighted to announce that Annabel Koeck, Jennifer Barnes, Laura Hannigan and Amelia Maxwell have won the BCO NextGen ideas competition.
‘Their inventive scheme captivated the judges. It goes beyond the analysis and presents an exciting vision of business, workspace, connectivity and technology in 2035. They are ‘ones to watch’ in the future.
‘On behalf of the BCO I would like to congratulate them all.’
This free-to-enter ideas competition attracted an enthusiastic response from multidisciplinary teams of young architects, designers, engineers, developers, agents and other professionals and consultants. Three finalists and the ultimate winner of the competition were selected by a judging panel composed of:
Cristiano Testi (Chair), Director & LLP Member at tp bennett; Chairman of BCO NextGen London Committee; Fellow of the RSA
John Forrester, Chief Executive, EMEA, Cushman & Wakefield
David Hamilton, Director of Projects, Malcolm Reading Consultants
Ben Johnson, Director, Workplace Resources EMEA, IHS Markit
Shannon Pope-Ellis, Store Planning & Design Director, Estée Lauder Companies
Ken Shuttleworth, Founding Director, Make Architects; BCO President
The BCO was advised throughout the competition by Malcolm Reading Consultants.
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said:
‘Our NextGen ideas competition has been a refreshing demonstration of the young talent and enterprise within our profession. The challenge of envisaging the office of 2035 clearly caught the imagination of this emerging cohort: they responded with enthusiasm and displayed abundant energy, commitment and promise. We thank them all.’
The winning team will receive an invitation to attend the 2018 BCO Conference in Berlin and the two runners-up will each receive an invitation to a private dinner hosted by two key industry figures. Please see the Notes to Editors for details of all finalist teams.
Annabel Koeck, Project Architect at Grimshaw and Team Leader of 88mph, said:
‘We are thrilled to win the BCO NextGen ideas competition. The brief – to imagine our environment and technology in the future and how organisations and workspaces will respond – was an irresistible challenge, and we’d like to thank the BCO for this wonderful opportunity.’
A total of 34 submissions were received and a judging panel selected three finalists, who were announced publicly on 13 October 2017.
About the winning team
Annabel Koeck (Team Leader) – Project Architect, Grimshaw
Annabel is a Project Architect at Grimshaw with experience working across high-profile design projects. She is a Founding Director of Scale Rule, a community interest company of architects and engineers focused on educational programmes encouraging diversity in the construction industry and community engagement.
Annabel was the team leader of 88mph and lead designer of The Dynamo.
Jennifer Barnes – Curator and Project Manager, Futurecity
Jen is a Curator and Project Manager at Futurecity where she manages a range of public art commissions on behalf of clients in the property sector. Jen is particularly interested in developing cultural strategies which can contribute to our experience of the public realm by embedding culture into new places.
Her experience navigating the ambitions of stakeholders came to the fore during this competition, driving the development of the E-On brief and future workplace vision.
Laura Hannigan – Engineer, Associate, AKTII
Laura is an Associate at AKTII with a panache for breaking complex problems down to simple principles. She combines a natural aptitude with a keen interest in both the profession and academic research which goes beyond the requirements of the job, including being a Founding Director of the community interest company Scale Rule. Laura was passionate about the structure retention and the utilisation of adaptable structure, including variable floor plates to ensure building adaptability and longevity, and her technical insight and problem-solving skills extended beyond engineering principles.
Amelia Maxwell – Finance and Commercial Manager, Lendlease
Amelia is a Finance and Commercial Manager in the Development team at Lendlease with global experience in investment, development and finance across large-scale urban regeneration projects. When she’s not busy participating in cycling and running events, Amelia is involved in the financial analysis of new business opportunities in Italy and London. She used her passion for urban renewal and solutions to urban regeneration within population, economic and environmental constraints to develop an economic viability model for The Dynamo, informing both the final design and proposed partnerships.
About the runner-up teams
Four Future
Chris Campbell – Mechanical Engineer, Norman Disney & Young
Nicola Matthews – Interior Designer, Associate Director, tp bennett
Michael Stanton – Brand Consultant, The Honest Brand
Michelle Wilkie – Interior Designer, Director, tp bennett
GTASC
Craig Chatley – Senior Associate, Gardiner & Theobald
Maxwell Ikin – Engineer, Cundall
Borja Marcaida – Associate Architect, Sheppard Robson
Tom Place – Structural Engineer, Arup
16 Oct 2017
BCO NextGen Competition Finalists
British Council for Offices announces finalists in ideas competition: imagining the office of 2035
Images from the three leading teams released
The British Council for Offices (BCO) on 13 October 2017 announced the three finalists in its NextGen ideas competition which was aimed at the next generation of office professionals.
The competition asked multidisciplinary teams of young architects, designers, engineers, developers, agents and other professionals and consultants to consider ‘the office of 2035: what it will look like, and how it will support the way we will work’.
This one-stage, free-to-enter contest launched in May at the BCO Annual Conference 2017, and the BCO was advised on the process by Malcolm Reading Consultants.
A total of 34 teams entered, submitting their proposals in the form of an illustrated report, with additional media including a video permitted.
A judging panel comprised of members and advisers of the BCO met earlier this week to assess the submissions, looking for forward-thinking and innovative responses that challenge the conventionalities of today’s workplaces and anticipate future needs.
The final results of the competition will be announced at the BCO NextGen Awards Dinner on Wednesday 15 November, with the winning team receiving an invitation to attend the 2018 BCO Conference in Berlin.
Ken Shuttleworth, Founding Director of Make Architects, BCO President and competition jury member, said:
‘After an intense, stimulating judging process, we’re delighted to reveal the three finalists in our NextGen ideas competition.
‘Each has responded thoughtfully to the brief and put forward a thorough, compelling and beautifully presented proposition.
‘Between them, they’ve offered three very different responses to ways of using urban space, from repurposing existing facilities to providing flexible new-build solutions.
‘These finalists should be congratulated for their creativity and for managing to stand out among the many impressive submissions. We look forward to announcing our winner next month.’
John Forrester, EMEA Chief Executive at Cushman & Wakefield, former BCO President and competition jury member, said:
‘I would like to thank all the teams who entered the competition for their energy, resourcefulness and commitment; we hope all the participants will benefit from the experience.
‘The judges were highly impressed with the clarity of thought behind the submissions, which help demonstrate how innovation and creativity can solve complex problems and turn challenges into industry opportunities.
‘The future of the BCO – and of our industry – is clearly in extremely ambitious and capable hands.’
The three finalist teams (in alphabetical order), and a short outline of their proposals, are given below:
88mph
Jennifer Barnes – Curator and Project Manager, Futurecity
Laura Hannigan – Engineer, Associate, AKTII
Annabel Koeck – Project Architect, Grimshaw
Amelia Maxwell – Finance and Commercial Manager, Lendlease
88mph propose ‘The Dynamo’, an adaptive reuse of an existing terrace of Victorian housing in London as the headquarters for a major energy company. The concept retains the existing façades and incorporates reconfigurable interior space, service cores plugged into the back of the building as an ‘energy backpack’, and facilities including a rooftop garden with staff allotments, a performance space and a meditation garden. The design responds to a future with increased transport connectivity across the UK: the company’s facilities are accordingly dispersed more widely throughout the country, but they retain a physical presence in the capital that is flexible and open to future changes.
Four Future
Chris Campbell – Mechanical Engineer, Norman Disney & Young
Nicola Matthews – Interior Designer, Associate Director, tp bennett
Michael Stanton – Brand Consultant, The Honest Brand
Michelle Wilkie – Interior Designer, Director, tp bennett
Four Future propose ‘The Nest’, set on the Greenwich peninsula surrounding the O2 arena. A public meadow is placed over the top of the existing arena and surrounded by ‘nest’ buildings. The form of these is based on the triple helix, with three occupiers (government, business and university) each occupying a third of the space, stacked in sequence around a central atrium. ‘Garden pods’ at the building’s edge incorporate biophilic design principles and offer access to nature, and a ramp wraps around the exterior of the building, allowing access via a variety of means to all levels.
GTASC
Craig Chatley – Senior Associate, Gardiner & Theobald
Maxwell Ikin – Engineer, Cundall
Borja Marcaida – Associate Architect, Sheppard Robson
Tom Place – Structural Engineer, Arup
GTASC propose ‘Network Space 2035’, a flexible network of working environments. Their central London site, close to the Barbican, the square mile and Farringdon Crossrail, incorporates a ‘Central Hub’ building which will be inhabited by multiple tenants alongside education, public, health and hospitality facilities. Community incubators, remotely connected to the hub, provide alternative working environments and platforms for start-up companies. The building form is adaptable, allowing the creation or reduction of space depending on future needs and uses.
12 May 2017
BCO NextGen Competition
BCO NextGen Competition in 2017
The BCO NextGen Competition is inviting submissions from talented, multi-disciplinary teams of young professionals working throughout the office sector.
This free-to-enter competition is being run by the British Council for Offices (BCO), with advice and support from Malcolm Reading Consultants.
The office of 2035: what will it look like and how will it support the way we will work?
Entrants are asked to consider the question above, as well as the following:
1. The organisation or occupier
Their vision, values, drivers, brand, and output
2. The user or occupant
How they work and how they live
3. The physical environment or workspace
Buildings, spaces, infrastructure, technology, nature, and services
BCO NextGen Competition in 2017
Join the NextGen Regional Summer Socials and hear more about the competition:
18 May
BCO NextGen Regional Summer Social at 180 St Vincent Street, Glasgow
6 June
BCO NextGen Regional Summer Social at Argent, King’s Cross, London
Events in the other regions will be announced soon. Check the BCO events page to keep updated.
Engage, collaborate and inspire!
Entrants will benefit from hackathon events in July, where senior BCO members will be on-hand to offer advice on competition proposals. There will also be an opportunity to meet one-to-one with an expert mentor from the BCO’s senior board, who will provide their advice on your proposal.
Key Dates:
– May & June – Regional Summer Socials and Competition Briefings
– 3 July (w/c) – Hackathon events
– 11 September (w/c) – Mentor Week
– 6 October – Deadline for all submissions
– 15 November – Winners presented at the BCO NextGen Awards
Full competition terms and conditions can be found at BCO NextGen Competition.
#BCOCompetition #BCONextGen #BCOWorkplaceCompetition
BCO NextGen Competition image / information received 110517 from Malcolm Reading Consultants
British Council for Offices NextGen Competition
British Council for Offices launches NextGen competition: imagining the office of 2035
Malcolm Reading Consultants’ Director of Projects, David Hamilton, sets out the challenge
The British Council for Offices (BCO) today [11 May 2017] launched the BCO NextGen competition, this initiative advised by Malcolm Reading Consultants.
Competitors are asked to consider ‘the office of 2035: what it will look like, and how it will support the way we will work’. The free-to-enter competition is seeking forward-thinking and innovative responses, challenging the conventionalities of today’s workplaces and anticipating future needs.
Established in 1990, the BCO is Britain’s leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector, with a mission to research, develop and communicate best practice in all aspects of the industry.
The NextGen programme allows the BCO to mentor the next generation of professionals – designers, agents, developers, consultants and others – and provides a platform for emerging talent to share their ideas.
With social, economic, cultural and technological progress changing the way people work, employers and workers’ expectations are in flux. Ubiquitous and instantaneous technology; a growing interest in health and wellbeing; a greater desire for organisational flexibility; and an increased awareness of individuals’ needs are now all competing factors within the workplace.
David Hamilton, Director of Projects at MRC and competition adviser, said:
“The social contract between employers and workers is under intense scrutiny at present: working lives are longer, jobs are vulnerable to automation – not to say robots – and creative fulfilment is increasingly sought by employees.
“All of which prompts the question: how can we creatively respond to rapid cultural change and new work patterns? How can we shape office environments that are humane and flexible and dynamic? This is the essential challenge of the competition: we want to see fresh analyses and inventive solutions that could change people’s lives for the better.”
Multi-disciplinary teams of between two and four members are invited to enter the competition. Individuals are also encouraged to register, and will receive the support of the BCO to form teams. Each team must contain a minimum number of BCO members – full details available on the BCO NextGen website.
Competitors will need to submit a 15-20 page report, including at least 10 images, graphics and diagrams and with additional media (including a five minute video) encouraged. The deadline for entry to the competition is Friday 6 October 2017.
During the competition period, teams will be invited to participate in ‘hackathons’ led by senior industry figures, and will be offered the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring and advice from an expert in a relevant field. A number of regional launch events are planned for the coming weeks, to promote the competition to young professionals throughout the UK.
Entries will be judged by an expert panel drawn from a range of disciplines and including David Hamilton. The winning and highly commended teams will be announced at the BCO NextGen Awards Dinner on Wednesday 15 November.
The competition’s first prize is an invitation for the winning team to attend the 2018 BCO Conference in Berlin, including tickets to all conference events, flights, hotel accommodation, and a financial contribution towards transfers and subsistence. The highly commended team will receive an invitation to an exclusive private dinner hosted by two key industry figures.
For full details of the competition, including team and submission requirements and the detailed brief, please visit the BCO NextGen competition website at http://bconextgen.co.uk/competition/. Details of the mentors and judging panel will follow.
BCO NextGen Competition image / information received 110517 from Malcolm Reading Consultants
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BCO NextGen Competition – page
Website: BCO NextGen Competition in 2017