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Keppie building voted best corporate workplace in UK |
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Keppie are celebrating after Great Glen House, the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage in Inverness, was voted the Best Corporate Workplace in Scotland and in the UK. Keppie, the largest architecture practice based in Scotland, picked up the two awards from the UK’s leading office industry organisation, the British Council for Offices (BCO), at the organisation’s annual awards ceremony held last night (Tuesday, 2nd October 2007) at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane. Charles Bell from Keppie who led the design team said, “We are delighted that the judges of this highly prestigious award have recognised the excellence of our architecture. This shows the design teams at Keppie are at the cutting edge of modern architecture in the UK and beyond. We have produced not only the most sustainable building in the UK but also the best corporate place to work.” The BCO judges commented: “It was important for Scottish Natural Heritage to produce a sustainable commercial building, reflecting its role and meeting aspirations of staff, many of whom were being relocated from Edinburgh. The building provides pleasant and efficient working conditions, with beautiful views of Inverness. The full-length atrium provides light and spaciousness to the offices, whilst being open and welcoming to the public who visit and wish to use the library. The judges also noted that Great Glen House has achieved the highest ever Environmental Assessment rating (BREEAM). They praised the innovative design work, which used recycled materials and locally sourced timber to produce a building that is highly insulated, naturally ventilated and uses thermal mass for cooling. The British Council for Offices Awards, now in their sixteenth year, are presented to projects in six categories: Corporate Workplace, Commercial Workplace, Refurbished/Recycled Workplace, Fit-out of Workplace, Small Projects and Innovation. |
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