Commercial Property Awards 2011 - The Categories and Entry Criteria

The Michelmores and Western Morning News Commercial Property Awards are the region's premier commercial property competition, showcasing the very best in West Country commercial property projects, buildings and people.

The categories are designed for commercial property projects of all shapes and sizes and the winners will announced on 19th June at an Awards Dinner, presented by the Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo at the Univeristy of Exeter. To be shortlisted for an award gives entrants the prestige of recognition by peers as well as the opportunity for high profile publicity, as the Western Morning News publishes case studies on all those shortlisted following the awards dinner.

Previous big name winners have included the Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, South Devon College, Plymouth's Roland Levinsky Building and the University of Exeter's INTO Centre.

Shortlisted entrants are announced below. To book a table at the awards dinner please contact hilary.sharp@michelmores.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Click here to find out more. 

Category 1:
Major Project of the Year for Projects with a value in excess of £3 million

The prize in this Category will be awarded to the project, deal or development which, in the opinion of the judges, is deemed to be both innovative and/or exceptional and has reached a stage by December 31 2011 where some identifiable stage of the project has been physically completed.

Projects with an approximate gross value of over £3 million will be considered for this prize.  This category has been created to enable entries to be judged alongside similarly costed projects although the actual cost guidelines will not be strictly applied.

This category is different from Category 3 - Building of the Year because it will involve complexities of planning, design and concept, let alone land assembly not consistent with a single building.

Residential developments can be considered in this category but not single dwellings.  Projects should be able to identify a range of objectives.

Submissions might include consideration of:

• The impact the project will have on the local and regional economies of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset
•  The contribution it will make to the community at large in a social context
•  The extent to which environmental factors played a part in formulating the development of the project
•  What is considered to be genuinely innovative or creative about the project

 Shortlisted Entrants

• HellermanTyton, Plymouth 
• Brixham Fish Market  
• My Place, Paignton 
• Five Islands School, Isles of Scilly

Category 2:
Project of the Year for Projects with a value below £3 million

The prize in this Category will be awarded to the project, deal or development which, in the opinion of the judges, is deemed to be both innovative and/or exceptional and has reached a stage by December 31 2011 where some identifiable stage of the project has been physically completed.

Projects with an approximate gross value of below £3 million will be considered for this prize.  This category has been created to enable entries to be judged alongside similarly costed projects although the actual cost guidelines will not be strictly applied.

This category is different from Category 3 - Building of the Year because it will involve complexities of planning, design and concept, let alone land assembly not consistent with a single building.

Residential developments can be considered in this category but not single dwellings.  Projects should be able to identify a range of objectives.

Submissions might include consideration of:

• The impact the project will have on the local and regional economies of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset
• The contribution it will make to the community at large in a social context
• The extent to which environmental factors played a part in formulating the development of the project
• What is considered to be genuinely innovative or creative about the project

 Shortlisted Entrants

• Teign Heritage Centre  
• Mylor Yacht Club  
• Prospect Row, Plymouth  
• Shaldon Beach Huts
• Jubilee Building, St Cuthbert Mayne  

Category 3:
Building of the Year

The prize in this Category will be awarded to the most progressive, completed building which, in the opinion of the judges, makes the boldest statement about the positive qualities of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset in terms of innovation, entrepreneurship and as a destination for inward investment.
Submission might include consideration of:

• Visual impact/aesthetic value (interior and/or exterior)
• Convergence of functionality and design (interior or exterior)
• Complexity of the engineering challenge and degree of construction difficulty
• Contribution to the local economy
• Value for money

 Shortlisted Entrants

• Mylor Yacht Club  
• University of Exeter Business School  
• Oxygen House, Exeter  
• Little Harbour Hospice, St Austell  
• Bridgewater YMCA

Category 4:
Heritage Project of the Year

The prize in this category will be awarded to the commercial property project involving the use/adaptation/refurbishment/extension of older, listed or other such buildings in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset not originally constructed for their current purpose.

Criteria, some or all of which might be considered relevant to submissions in this category include:

• Innovative/imaginative adaptation of older buildings
• Sympathetic use of materials and traditional building skills
• Assimilation of building's character with modern regulations and requirements
• Value for money over new build
• Visual impact and convergence of functionality and design

 Shortlisted Entrants

• Old Market House, Brixham  
• St Aubyn's Library, Plymouth  
• Gyllyngdune Gardens, Falmouth  
• St Boniface House, Buckfastleigh 

Category 5:
Eco Building of the Year

Submissions are invited from all businesses, professional firms, practices and partnerships where there is an involvement in commercial property projects, developments, deals and transactions in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset who wish to be considered for Eco Building of the Year.

Submissions in this category might consider factors such as energy saving, the use of renewables, waste disposal technology, recycling, sustainability, economic viability and the extent to which the project impacts on the local environment (including biodiversity) and community.

The degree to which the project adds to our knowledge base of eco building will be an important factor in considering shortlisted candidates. 

Crucial to the judges' decision will be the ability of the entry to demonstrate that "eco-factors" were the major determining factor behind the concept, design and construction of the building and not merely a desirable bi-product of its commercial property enterprise.

Submissions must take into account where appropriate

•  Environmental credentials
•  Visual impact/ aesthetic value (interior and/or exterior)
•  Convergence of functionality and design (interior and/or exterior
• Complexity of the engineering challenge and degree of construction difficulty
• Contribution to the local economy and value for money
• Contribution to our knowledge base of eco-building

 Shortlisted Entrants

• Sainsbury's Supermarket, Dawlish  
• Oxygen House, Exeter  
• Knights Place, Exeter  
• Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Lostwithiel

Category 6:
Property Personality of the Year

Nominations are sought for the Commercial Property Personality of the Year.
The judges are looking for someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the sector during 2011 in any commercial property related area including deal-maker, developer, project manager, contractor, architect, chartered surveyor and commercial agents.

No commercial property role is ruled out and team entries are welcome.
Special consideration will be given to nominees who can demonstrate innovation, knowledge, ability to engage and communicate and a philosophy of 'making it happen'.

Nominations should be accompanied by a very brief description (150 words) of the nominee and his/her achievements/special role in 2011 (plus direct contact details) and name and contact details of nominating individual or business.

A pre-judging shortlist will be drawn up and those selected will be interviewed by the judges' representative (if time allows).

Shortlisted Entrants

• John Taylor, Kensington Taylor 
• Alf Trewin, Trewin Design Partnership 
• Mike Bradbury, Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects

Category 7:
The John Laurence Award for Professional Firm of the Year †

Submissions are invited from all businesses, professional firms, practices and partnerships where there is an involvement in commercial property projects, developments, deals and transactions in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset who wish to be considered for the overall title of Professional Firm of the Year.†

The winning submission will be the one that, in the opinion of the judges, can demonstrate a range of challenging property deals / transactions / projects completed during 2011 accompanied by the most innovative and accomplished team of professionals.

All of the above must relate to work carried out during 2011 and also only relate to projects within the four counties.

Criteria, some or all of which might be considered relevant to submissions in this category include:

• Reputation
• Client care and quality of service
• Investment in staff
• Innovative approach to problem-solving
• Overall contribution to the local economy

Shortlisted Entrants

• Alder King  
• Lacey Hickie Caley  
• Trewin Design Partnership  
• Hoare Lee

† This category is not open to legal advisers.