AYA 2023 shortlists: Industry Manufacturing Partner

Earlier this year BD announced all the architects who made it on to the shortlists for our prestigious annual Architect of the Year Awards.

Now we are shining the spotlight on each category in turn and publishing a selection of the images that impressed the judges.

This year’s judges include: Jo Bacon, partner, Allies & Morrison; Murray Kerr, director, Denizen Works; Dav Bansal, partner, Howells; Kay Hughes, design director HS2; Peter Caplehorn, chief executive, Construction Products Association; Peter Fisher, director, Bennetts Associates; Anna Hollyman, Senior Sustainability Advisor, UK Green Building Council; Marta Galinanes Garcia, director, AKTII; Darryl Chen, partner, Hawkins\Brown; Lee Higson, director, Eric Parry Architects; Maria Joao Reis, senior associate, Maccreanor Lavington

Today’s shortlist is for Industry Manufacturing Partner.

ACS Stainless Steel Fixings

The Leeds-based building components manufacturer and designer has launched Intex^TM Fire Protect, a system combining masonry support with wall tie and cavity tray elements. The latter includes a mechanically-fixed open state fire barrier for added fire protection. The new product promises to be 40% faster to install than traditional masonry support systems, and is part of ACS’s vision to help create safer and more sustainable buildings.

Forbo Flooring Systems

The flooring manufacturer’s new Marmoleum Cocoa collection has been verified as naturally climate positive, without any off-setting. The product is made from 97% natural raw materials including flax seeds, jute and rosin. It has a 43% recycled content including upcycled cocoa husk waste from the chocolate manufacturing industry and end of life recycled Marmoleum – the latter a first for Forbo.

Future Joinery Systems

Future Joinery Systems has created a CAD configuration platform for joinery to enable increased access to digital fabrication processes for designers and architects.

The platform provides open access to joinery designs within the CAD model during the design process, and removes the need to redraw for fabrication by outputting all the necessary manufacturing information. It also connects designers with a network of local makers.

Plan A Consultants

Plan A provides design management services for architects and is, it says, the only independent design management consultancy in existence. Established in 2015, it has grown to 55 staff following an increase of 76% over 2022/23. Repeat business accounts for 70% of its work. Plan A describes itself as providing day-to-day support to allow architects to focus on creating high quality design.