|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Doughnut scoops another award |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
GCHQ's new accommodation - commonly known as the Doughnut - has been voted the region's best corporate building by the British Council for Offices. The new GCHQ headquarters building has won the corporate category for the South of England and South Wales region at the British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards 2004. Judges praised the building, commenting on the part it has played in "a massive change in culture" at GCHQ and describing it as "an investment that could last many decades and is expected to improve productivity in more than 20 business areas." Accepting the award on behalf of GCHQ at a special ceremony in London on 5 October, GCHQ's New Accommodation Programme Director, said: "the building is already proving to be a great asset, with its open plan design and unified IT systems enabling new teams to be formed quickly and effectively to deal with a variety of new threats to the UK." He also commented on the "buzz" around the internal street and break out areas, where staff are encouraged to exchange ideas and stimulate new ways of working. The building, designed by Chris Johnson of Gensler, has already scooped a number of prizes, including PFI building of the year in 2002, and was recently short-listed for the Prime Minister's best building award. Established in 1990, the BCO is Britain's leading forum for the discussion and debate of issues affecting the office sector. Its members are all organisations involved in creating, acquiring or occupying office space, including architects, lawyers, surveyors and public agencies. The BCO works to advance the collective understanding of its members, enabling them to work together to create more effective office space. 26 October 2004 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
