Façade awards shortlist include world-firsts and ground-breaking technologies

Ground-breaking buildings highlight the innovation and advancement in façade engineering in awards shortlist.

The world’s first air-powered shading system for buildings, the world’s largest spherical structure, and the UK’s first major mixed-use fossil fuel-free development have all made the shortlist for the Façade 2024 Design and Engineering Awards.

The Awards, run by the Society of Façade Engineering (SFE) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), recognise excellence and achievements in façade engineering, raising the profile of, and drawing attention to the importance of this discipline.

Forty projects and products have been shortlisted across the 9 award categories, including the Las Vegas Sphere, a multifunctional entertainment space, which features 14,500sqm of LED screens, and is the world’s largest spherical structure. Also breaking records in the New Build Award category is the Arbor building, which is net zero in operation and part of the Bankside Yards estate set to be the UK’s first major mixed-use fossil fuel-free development.

As well as categories for New Build, and Refurbishment, the new categories for Digital Innovation and Special Structures UK and International have been introduced for 2024.

The Digital Innovation Award rewards the very best digital innovation product or project that supports façade engineers. The Special Structures Awards recognise smaller envelope interventions such as a bridge, canopy or sculpture. The Special Structures International Award shortlist features the world’s first air-powered shading device, the Airshade, developed by Arup, in Masdar City, UAE.

The projects and products making up the shortlist, are joined by five young façade engineers who are already making their mark on the industry.

Saverio Pasetto, Chair of Judges said: ‘The huge diversity of projects in this year’s shortlist, from art galleries, to libraries, Grade II listed buildings, hospitals and entertainment spaces highlight the wide-reaching impact of façade engineering in our spaces and buildings. Amongst the shortlist are new and innovative technologies, passive solutions and LEED Platinum projects which showcase the cutting-edge advancements in our specialism and are truly inspirational.’

The headline sponsor for the awards are Reynaers Aluminium. The awards will take place on 6 November at Old Billingsgate, London.

To view the shortlist in full, and to book your place visit: www.cibse.org/what-s-on/sfe-facade-2024-design-and-engineering-awards