Corus announce winners of the Student Design Awards 2009

28 Jul 2009

“The future of steel construction design looks secure, judging by the standard of this year’s entries,” said Mr Adams. “The winning teams showed a high level of innovation and design skill, with a developed appreciation of what steel can achieve. My congratulations go to them all.”

First prizes were presented to undergraduates from the University of Southampton (Structures), Cardiff University(Bridges) and Manchester School of Architecture(Architecture). The awards, were created 21 years ago to acknowledge excellence in steel design among undergraduates.

The Winners:

Cardiff University was awarded the Bridges prize, with the judges panel, chaired by Barry Mawson of Capita Symonds commenting particularly on the good conceptual design of the approach spans, and good clear drawings. The brief for the Bridge entries was to design a structure to carry a dual carriageway over a grade separated interchange with a motorway.  An elegant structural solution had to be produced, demonstrating sound engineering and structural design skills.

Manchester School of Architecture’s entry was described by the judges panel, chaired by David Bonnett of David Bonnett Associates, as terrific and very elegant, and was an idea that had not been seen before. The design brief for the Architecture award was to produce a design for Community One, a ‘vertical community’ where people would live, work and use leisure facilities under one roof instead of increasing pollution through travelling.

The Structures prize went to University of Southampton, whose entry comprised a series of trussed arches that the judges panel, chaired by Alan Jones of SKM anthony hunts, said has real architectural presence. For the Structures award students had to produce an outline design for a structure to enclose a winter sports facility, including an artificial ski slope, an ice skating rink and a climbing wall. Individuality and flair were among the qualities looked for.

Mr Adams concluded: “Corus has for long fostered and helped develop the engineering and architectural talent of the future, and we are committed to maintaining that commitment even in today’s testing economic environment. Each category in this year’s competition received a very high level of interest from the UK’s student design community, which shows that they value the recognition these awards give to their hard work.

“The judges were highly impressed by the quality of the entries in all three categories. All of the successful teams demonstrated their design skills in particularly innovative and effective ways, which convinces me that the future is very encouraging for steel design.”

Full listing of Student Awards winners

Corus Student Awards – Bridges
1st Place – Cardiff University
2nd Place – Anglia Ruskin University London 
3rd Place – Edinburgh University

Corus Student Awards - Architecture
1st - Manchester School of Architecture
2nd - Oxford Brookes University
3rd - Leicester School of Architecture

Corus Student Awards – Structures
1st Place – University of Southampton
2nd Place – University of Sheffield
3rd Place – Swansea University