2011 Innovation and Research Stars, announced by the CIOB

Monday, 5 September 2011 11:06 AM

For more than a decade the Chartered Institute of Building has been promoting the importance of new ideas, and technology through its International Innovation and Research Awards.

There are no other awards in the built environment that acknowledge innovation and research on an international scale and are inclusive of the whole construction process, from design to delivery.

Nathan Millington from Sheffield Hallam University has won this year’s Undergraduate Dissertation Award with his paper on ‘An estates approach to improving the privacy and dignity standard of inpatient facilities within a typical NHS Foundation Trust’. The judges commented “Nathan examines whether modern healthcare standards can be applied to the existing impatient environment, focusing on the built environment and the issue of patient privacy and dignity. We would like to see this research taken forward to the next stage and would welcome this piece of work as a CIOB scholarship.”

This year’s new category, the Sustainable Innovation Award, sponsored by the Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (MBEKTN), was won by Thomas Lipinski for his ‘Thermal Accumulator’. This idea is based on the lack of a universal, modular accumulator for domestic heat storage and commercial applications. If realised the innovation would prove to be extremely useful in the retrofit process.

Thomas also won the Architecture and Surveying Innovation Award for ‘Green Structures and the Retrofit for the Future.’ Green structures develop commercially viable low carbon building solutions for the residential and commercial sector.

The Innovation Technology and Development prize, sponsored by PERA and worth €55,000 of business consultancy, went to Christopher Curry from Critical Data Limited for his ‘AEGIS – discrete monitoring system for elderly people living alone.’ The AEGIS system which is a discrete, unobtrusive monitoring technology that allows elderly people to be monitored in their own home. The system comprises of small sensors which send information to a central hub. This is linked to an expert system that determines normal patterns of behaviour. The system looks and feels like a social network.

Alan Crane CIOB Senior Vice President and Chair of the judging for this year’s award said, “The judging panel had a very lengthy and testing discussion to reach their decisions, especially in the undergraduate dissertation category some of which were outstanding quality. It is clear from the submissions that without focused research the industry cannot achieve innovation.”

The awards will be presented on the 4 October at BRE Watford as part of the Insite 11 two-day conference. If you would like to learn and hear more about this year’s winners please contact Una Mair on umair@ciob.org.uk to reserve your place.

Undergraduate Dissertation Awards

Winner

Nathan Millington – Sheffield Hallam University

‘An estates approach to improving the privacy and dignity standard of inpatient facilities within a typical NHS Foundation Trust’

Highly Commended

David Farmer – Leeds Metropolitan University

‘Homes fit for Carbon Zeros: Refurbishing Interwar Council Housing’

Sustainable Innovation Award

Winner

Thomas Lipinski – Green Structures

‘Thermal Accumulator’

Architecture and Surveying Innovation Award

Winner

Thomas Lipinski – Green Structures

‘Green Structures and the Retrofit for the Future.’

Innovation Technology and Development Prize

Winner

Christopher Curry – Critical Data Limited

‘AEGIS- discrete monitoring system for elderly people living alone.’

For further information about the CIOB’s International Innovation and Research Awards please go to www.ciob.org.uk/iandr

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) represents for the public benefit the most diverse set of professionals in the construction industry.

Our Mission

To contribute to the creation of a modern, progressive, and responsible construction industry; able to meet the economic, environmental and social challenges faced in the 21st century.

Our 7 Guiding Principles

· Creating extraordinary people through professional learning and continuous personal development.

· Promoting the built environment as central to the quality of life for everyone everywhere.

· Achieving a sustainable future, worldwide.

· Advocating exemplary ethical practice and behaviour, integrity and transparency.

· Pursuing excellence in management practice, and technological innovation rooted in evidence based science.

· Being socially responsible and working responsibly.

· Enabling our members to find an emotional resonance with the Institute; their success is our success.

We have over 47,000 members around the world and are considered to be the international voice of the building professional, representing an unequalled body of knowledge concerning the management of the total building process.

Chartered Member status is recognised internationally as the mark of a true, skilled professional in the construction industry and CIOB members have a common commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest possible standards within the built environment.

Further information is available by contacting Saul Townsend CIOB Press and Communications Manager on t: 01344 630 766 or e: stownsend@ciob.org.uk.

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Saul Townsend MCIPR

Press and Communications Manager

The Chartered Institute of Building

t: +44 (0) 1344 630 766 f: +44 (0) 1344 630 770

e: stownsend@ciob.org.uk Twitter: @CIOBsaul

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