British Council for Offices’ Awards go virtual for the first time.
Colmore Building: Interface, The Greenhouse Birmingham has been recognised as one of the best workplaces in the Midlands and Central England at the annual British Council for Offices’ regional awards. This year, the prestigious event was held virtually as part of the BCO’s Festival Awards Week, which recognises the highest quality developments in the UK and sets the standard for excellence in the regional and national office sector.
Colmore Building: Interface, The Greenhouse in Birmingham was awarded the Best Project up to 1,500m². Last year, the global 
flooring company invested £1 million into building its new UK headquarters in Birmingham’s main business district. Situated on the 10th floor of The Colmore Building, the flexible office space has sustainability and wellbeing at its heart, with a mixture of natural finishes and biophilic design.
Committed to reversing climate change, Interface encourages employees to walk, cycle or use public transport, with no car parking facilities provided on site. The BCO judges were impressed by the diversity of the space, including its welcoming entrance hub, which provides a central collaborative meeting space designed to inspire employees and customers alike.
Rob van Zyl, building services partner at Cundall and chair of the Midlands & Central England judging panel commented: “This year’s entrants demonstrate that agile working has come of age, and Interface is no exception. What was initially a move towards cramming more people into less space through ‘hotdesking’ has evolved into something that is clearly more focused on the health and wellness of occupiers.
“It is also encouraging to see accelerating trends towards sustainability, efficiencies in energy consumption and the use of natural shapes, materials and plants. All across Britain, the office sector now possesses more knowledge on how to create a healthy and productive office than ever before and is making informed design decisions to an outstanding effect.”
Danny Parmar, chairman of the BCO Midlands & East Anglia committee added: “Many congratulations to Interface for being awarded the ‘Best Project up to 1,500m²’ Award. This was one of several outstanding entries in this year’s BCO regional awards programme and reflects both the strength of our sector and the increasing demands placed upon it to deliver market-leading work environments.”
The ceremony marked the twelfth year of the BCO Regional Awards dedicated to the Midlands and Central region. Held online, the ceremony was a virtual first for the BCO, but still involved all the usual excitement that makes up the in-person ceremony. Guests were able to network, celebrate with friends and watch a live ceremony, presented by the BBC’s former Chief Political Correspondent, John Sergeant to recreate the magic of the traditional awards ceremony.
Winners from the Midlands and Central England will compete with those from other regions at the BCO Virtual National Awards on Tuesday 26 January 2021.
