Bahrain World Trade Center shortlisted for international environmental excellence award

The impressive World Trade Center in Manama, Bahrain has just been shortlisted for the EDIE Award for Environmental Excellence. This is another documentation of the increasing popularity and appreciation of the sustainable building designs in some of the Gulf Countries. This is the report from AME Info

The Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) designed by Atkins, has been short 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'être 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 judging criteria for the awards focus on nine key areas including project innovation, energy efficiency, financial viability and influence, in all of which the BWTC scores highly. The iconic building is the first in the world to suspend electricity-generating wind turbines between two commercial tower structures, surpassing existing construction boundaries.

The office towers also incorporate a number of other environmentally sound energy efficient measures including solar-powered external lighting, energy efficiency, low-energy fluorescent lighting and enhanced thermal insulation for opaque fabric elements, all of which assist in reducing carbon emissions.

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.

Mr. Simha LytheRao, Senior Project Manager of Atkins Middle East commented on being short listed: 'We are honoured to be one of the four high-calibre projects short listed for the EDIE Award for Environmental Excellence.

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.