Stars of built environment shine at ACE awards

Consultancy and Engineering Awards winners

31 JAN 2025

STARS OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT SHINE AT ACE AWARDS

Outstanding achievements from the built environment sector have been recognised by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering at its annual awards ceremony.

Held in London on 30 January, the Consultancy and Engineering Awards 2024 turned the spotlight on the people and projects raising the bar for excellence across the sector.

The glittering event was also the opportunity to highlight the incredible work that underpins some of the UK’s most impactful projects.

A big winner on the night was WSP UK. It was named Inclusive Employer of the Year as well as taking the much coveted Best Large UK Consultancy of the Year.

Kamran Moazami, WSP UK’s managing director, property and buildings (UK), who designed The Shard in London, was also named as one of two Lifetime Achievement winners.

WSP’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, Paul Reilly, said he was delighted by the company’s wins.

“Winning Best Large UK Consultancy really recognises our clients, who trust us to take on big and challenging projects – and we work to fulfill that trust. I’m so pleased for our team.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award is also fabulous recognition for Kamran and I am delighted for him.

“But all the companies at these awards are doing incredible work and I am so proud to be part of such a great industry.”

Also taking the Lifetime Achievement Award last night was Dinesh Patel, Arup Fellow.

Other highlights from the evening included Amey’s success in taking the Best Transport Project award for its work on the Liverpool City Centre Connectivity project.

The Social Value Project title went to Services Design Solution for its outstanding work on the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Engaging with the community across the generations, judges described the work as a “masterclass in imaginative delivery of a social value project”.

For the 2024 awards, ACE also introduced a new Client of the Year award, recognising the crucial role of clients who commission and champion outstanding projects in the built and natural environments. Taking the title was British Antarctic Survey.

Kate Jennings, CEO of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC), said it had been an inspirational evening showcasing some of the very best people and projects in the sector.

“This year’s nominations reflect the vibrancy and tenacity of our sector and how the industry is responding to technological and environmental changes through the delivery of world-class projects,” she said.

“What sets our sector apart is our people’s steadfast ambition and ability to provide world-class expertise at every stage of a project—whether it's designing a building, delivering critical infrastructure, or supporting clean energy and technology

“This knowledge delivers the infrastructure that makes a real difference to people’s daily lives - improving it - making it safer, easier and increasingly more sustainable and inclusive.

“A snapshot of those efforts have been captured through the nominations received this year. The stories shared highlight the exceptional work being done, particularly in pushing boundaries and embracing new technologies for sustainable innovation.

“These awards celebrate the talent, dedication, innovation and impact right across our sector.”

The Consultancy and Engineering Awards 2024 were held at London’s Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, on Thursday, 30 January.

The awards were hosted by Spencer Kelly, the BBC’s longest serving and most experienced technology presenter and journalist.

Full list of winners and highly commended:

BEST INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECT

Winner: Useful Studio

Following an exciting win of the RIBA/National Highways competition to design the next generation of motorway gantries in the UK, Useful Studio was appointed by National Highways to develop the concept. Working in close collaboration with Jacobs and Atkins Realis JV, it successfully reduced the carbon and material use by half and created a solution that minimises on-site works.

Highly commended:

Expedition Engineering

WSP UK

BEST TRANSPORT PROJECT

Winner: Amey

Amey Consulting was appointed by Liverpool City Council to develop a masterplan and detailed design proposals for the redevelopment of Liverpool City Centre. The Liverpool City Centre Connectivity Scheme (LCCC) aims to boost transport links and further fuel the city’s international appeal to investors, shoppers and tourists.

Highly commended:

Tony Gee & Partners

WSP UK

BEST SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT

Winner: Ingleton Wood

Ingleton Wood won for its work on the Camden Roundhouse project, providing building services design and BREEAM sustainability services to help build a new state-of-the-art creative centre for young people to expand the Roundhouse site.

Highly commended:

Buro Happold

Cognition Land and Water

BEST SOCIAL VALUE PROJECT

Winner: Services Design Solution

Sustainability and building services engineering consultancy Services Design Solution was honoured for its work on the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Social value projects included a water safety initiative offering sea safety lessons to local children and virtual reality sessions that allowed the elderly to experience the ocean. The judges were impressed with how this project delivered social value in a 360-way describing it as a “masterclass in imaginative delivery of a social value project”.

Highly commended: Ingleton Wood

INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Winner: WSP UK

WSP's commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity (IDE) is a central pillar of its culture and values. Its inclusive environment is one in which everyone can thrive.

Highly commended:

Ramboll

Waterman Aspen

BEST WELLBEING PROJECT

Winner: BWB Consulting

Judges were impressed by BWB’s commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy work environment, focussed on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of its people and communities.

Highly commended: Harley Haddow

EMERGING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Winner: Bianca Laura Latini, Buro Happold

Latini is an associate engineer in the UK sustainability and physics team and currently the global lead of Buro Happold’s social impact service offering. She works with clients all over the globe.

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Winner: Ewan Thomson, Tony Gee & Partners

Thomson joined Tony Gee & Partners in 2017 at the age of 16 as an engineering apprentice. He has continued to thrive, progressing to be a BIM (building information modelling) designer with a keen interest in the rail sector.

Highly commended:

Katie McQuade, Waterman Aspen

Joshua Lowe, Waterman Group plc

CLIENT OF THE YEAR

Winner: British Antarctic Survey

New for this year, this award recognises the crucial role of clients who commission and champion outstanding projects in the built and natural environments.  The British Antarctic Survey set out to modernise infrastructure in one of the world’s most formidable natural environments.  

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Winners:

Kamran Moazami, managing director, property and buildings (UK), WSP UK

Over his 35-year career with WSP, he has made a deep and lasting contribution to the architectural landscape. A world-renowned expert in structural engineering, he has re-shaped London’s skyline, designing ground-breaking buildings such as The Shard – the tallest building in Western Europe.

Dinesh Patel, fellow - Arup

After a long history at Arup working on transport infrastructure and complex basement projects globally Patel is now an Arup fellow. The world-first excavation and five-storey basement extension below the occupied grade 1 listed Claridge’s Hotel, central London high-rise developments and global transport infrastructure schemes are just some of the areas he has showcased his vast expertise.

BEST UK CONSULTANCY – (MICRO AND SMALL)

Winner: Rivelin Bridge