Blog Post: BCO Awards 2023
November 08, 2022 
By:
Mike Burton, BCO National Awards Judging Chair 2023
It’s not easy to win a BCO Award: to demonstrate why your project is excellent, your submission requires effort, precision, time, teamwork, and skill – as was required to deliver your development.
And it’s that demanding process that ensures that only special projects even apply, only extra special projects get nominated, and only excellent projects win an Award. So, it really is an outstanding achievement to get hold of one of the coveted BCO golden bricks. It’s so much more than a brilliant night out with great company.
The BCO exists to research, develop, and communicate best practice in all aspects of the office sector. We define excellence in office space, and BCO Award winners are the real-world examples of that. An Award is a celebration of outstanding achievement, that every team member can be proud of and boast about. It provides a focus for others to study, appreciate, and aspire to in their own projects and workplaces.
Winning a BCO Award spreads the word regionally, nationally, and globally. Winning projects are written about in the business, local and national media and we run tours for the winners so visitors can admire and learn from what they see.
Just like the entrants, the BCO Awards, the categories, and the criteria used to determine a winner evolves to reflect what’s happening in the industry and the wider world. When the BCO Awards started in 1992 winners were those that displayed excellence across the board. In 2000 and 2001 the distinct categories we use today were created and the following year Regional Awards began. Three more Awards were added up to 2011 – Presidents, Innovation, and Test of Time. And in 2023 we have added the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Award.
That this is the first new category for 12 years highlights the significance of this new Award and our recognition of the challenge that confronts us. The property industry is at the forefront of tackling the climate emergency and our provision of healthier sustainable workplaces is critical for the planet’s future.
The Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Award
The ESG award will go to a project which has had a game changing influence on the environment. It will recognise social value and the true impact a building has on its users and surroundings. We will examine the role of governance and creditability; we want to find out how energy and water usage has been significantly reduced; and we will celebrate sustainability.
The ESG Regional Award winners will be chosen by the regional judges from the other categories and will go on to compete for the National Award. The judges will be looking at the hard facts. Projects will be assessed and scored on the actual achievements and the proof that they are making a difference. There won’t be any greenwashing – an ESG winner will have made a tangible step to tackling the climate emergency.
The judges will require evidence of the results of your sustainable measures. These include:
- What economic and social initiatives have you adopted and how have you measured them?
- How have you improved biodiversity and urban greening?
- What considerations have been made for circular economy value?
- Environmental certificates.
- What is the project’s up front and whole life embodied carbon.
- What is the project’s energy use intensity and benchmark, and target (or actual) water use
Quantifying and costing your submission
Key criterion for the new ESG Award will be the detail and information submitted, letting us know that the money has been spent wisely and that resources haven’t been squandered. And this will be the case for all the Awards, the judges want to see value for money – it’s no good tackling the climate emergency and ignoring the financial crisis.
Across the board, Award submissions will need to give proof to the judges that the money has been used to good effect. We won’t let anybody else know the detail, but a lack of accurate costings will make it virtually impossible to win a BCO Award. As such your best bet is to get this information put together by a professional cost consultant.
Make sure your consultants let us know everything asked for. It should be broken down as illustrated for clear and easy understanding and analysis. Do not skimp on the detail; make sure you explain fully:
- Floor areas – gross internal area and net internal area
- Procurement route and project programme – key dates for appointment, planning consent, start on site, practical completion, and occupation.
- Added value – identify specific initiatives that have added value.
One of the key components for a value for money is the longevity and adaptability of the building. We want to know why your project will still be standing-proud in a century. How will it withstand the weather, market demands, technological improvements, and user preferences.
The judges will need details of the building facilities, quality, durability, and maintenance. We will examine building connectivity and intelligence. We will want to see evidence that your project meets the demands placed upon it today and in the future.
We want detail of:
- Your approach to quality, longevity of construction, finishes, maintenance, and management.
- What measures were included to optimise cost in use?
- How well connected is the building?
- Has a Wiredscore or other certification been achieved?
- Have you utilised any intelligent building technology – is there a building app?
Into 2023
No one thinks compiling this information will be easy and you will need to start early to collect and measure the data. Regardless of the outcome there’s no doubt that the record you build from your submission will be invaluable for you in your other projects. It will be an immense aid to the help the ongoing occupation of the building and its evolution.
But above all, do it right and successfully get across how your project is actually excellent, and on October 3rd, 2023, you might be up on the stage of the Grosvenor grasping a Golden Brick – an Award that is earned not won.
By BCO Media 
