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GCHQ is "refreshingly different" |
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The inspirational architecture of the new GCHQ headquarters has been recognised at the recent British Construction Industry Awards. The new GCHQ headquarters building has collected yet another award to add to an impressive array of prizes. The latest accolade comes in the form of a special judges award presented by the British Construction Industry in recognition of the intelligence centre's inspirational architecture. The GCHQ building was one of 17 included in the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Awards shortlist and, although it narrowly missed out on the top prize at a ceremony in London on 28 October, the special award it garnered has been hailed as a significant achievement. According to the judges, the new headquarters - affectionately known as the Doughnut - was "a superbly designed and finished building with real presence of calm quality perfectly fitting GCHQ's post Cold War aspiration to be flexible and able to respond to change rapidly, 24 hours a day." Additionally, the internal street within the Doughnut was described as: "refreshingly different…encouraging accidental interaction between staff." GCHQ's director for business support, who accepted the award in London, commented: "We're chuffed to bits. The judges' comments are very gratifying. The new building really does make a difference to our ability to tackle our national security mission effectively. This award really is the icing on the doughnut." The Prime Minister's better building award is made annually to new projects commissioned by central or local government and paid mainly with public funds. It is part of the Better Building Initiative launched by the PM in October 2000 to encourage the adoption of quality design principles in all new public sector buildings. The new GCHQ building has already received a number of prizes including: PFI building of the year 2002, and the regional corporate category at the recent British Council for Offices awards. 2 November 2004 |
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