Pressroom Archives 2007
Norwin A/S Wind Powered Bahrain WTC, Architects -Atkins -Win; MEP, EDIE, and Best Environmental Consultancy Awards

Middle East, December 7, 2007 -- Atkins scoops four honours at MEP Middle East Awards.  Atkins blew away the competition at the 2007 MEP Middle East Awards, held on Wednesday 5th December 2007, scooping four honours including the coveted Supreme Judges Award.

Of a possible 12 awards presented during a gala dinner at the inaugural event in Dubai, Atkins claimed the awards for Training, Innovation of the Year (for work on the Bahrain World Trade Center, MEP Consultancy of the Year (for work on the Dubai Metro),and the Supreme Judges Award, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Hyder Consulting, Reem Emirates Aluminium and Al Habtoor Engineering.

The MEP awards are judged by an independent panel of industry experts, with particular focus on recognising achievements at project and company level. They were established to recognise the organisations that design and install the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, which are fundamental to development in the Middle East. They also honoured those companies that invest in their people by providing training and insisting on the highest health and safety standards.

“This vote, by the industry, in our capability is very well received.
With an impressive judging panel including past presidents from both CIBSE and ASHRAE, the quality of our submissions were properly recognised and won through.” commented Richard Smith, Atkins Technical Director – Middle East & India.

In 2007, for the third consecutive year, Atkins has been voted the Best Environmental Consultancy for 2007 by clients and consultants in the environment industry, following the highly regarded Edie.net Environmental Consultancy Survey of the UK's 50 largest environmental consultancies.

The Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) was also listed for the 2007 EDIE Award for Environmental Excellence in the category of Sustainable Construction. The awards, which recognise the achievements of developments whose raison d'ętre is environmental protection and improvement, provide public recognition for the individuals and companies who have attained the highest standards within the design and construction industry. The use of 'type-rated' turbines with minimal modifications ensured that the additional cost incurred by incorporating turbines into the project was reduced to around 3.5% of the overall project value making it a financial viable venture and since its initial design launch there have been a number of derivative projects in the region, a true testament to the viability of the project's design. The award recognises projects that push the boundaries of environmental architecture and generates exposure which helps to promote the use of innovative and effective environmental building solutions, ultimately contributing to shaping the future of our planet for the better'

Judges for the awards include the chairman of the Environment Agency, Sir John Harman, London's deputy mayor, and the driving force behind many of the capital's green initiatives, Nicky Gavron, Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Carbon Trust's technology direct David Vincent and the BRE Group director Peter Bonfield. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at London's Natural History Museum on Tuesday 23 October 2007.
By DTZ

Atkins was commissioned to provide full architectural and building services for the twin towers of the Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC), a garden court, anchor tenant and several food outlets as well as a single-storey extension of the BWTC podium to the existing shopping mall. The site for the Bahrain World Trade Center is prestigiously located on the main King Faisal Highway in Manama, Bahrain.

Offering unobstructed views over the Arabian Gulf, more than half the area occupied by the BWTC site is currently developed and comprises the Bahrain Sheraton Hotel, an associated single-storey luxury shopping mall, an office tower, car parking facilities, services and landscaped areas.