Award panel of judges select the 2013 Governor’s Award for Construction and Design Excellence shortlist of finalists

The Cayman Society of Architects, Surveyors & Engineers (CASE) and the Cayman Contractors Association (CCA) in conjunction with His Excellency Governor Duncan Taylor, are pleased to announce the Nominations for the 2013 Governor’s Award.  From a very strong entry of nine nominations, three have been selected for the final shortlist-

Barcadere Marina, George Town

Kirk Harbour Centre, George Town

West Bay Office Building, West Bay

The other six nominations were:

Appleby Tower, George Town

George Town Library, George Town

Mayfair House, Britannia Estates

94 Solaris Building, Camana Bay

Willow House, Cricket Square, George Town

Spanish Colonial Revival House, Yocht Club

Mr Norman Bodden, Mr Jim Scott and Ms Natalie Urquhart have been invited to be guest judges for the Governor’s Award 2013. Other members of the panel of judges for this prestigious award are Mr Gary Benham of the Governor’s Office; Ms Jacqueline Bleicher, the president of  the Cayman Society of Architects, Surveyors & Engineers and Mr Heber Arch, the president of the Cayman Contractors Association.

Norman Bodden OBE JP is a former Elected Member for George Town and Executive Council Member responsible for Tourism, Aviation and Trade.  He has an extensive background in tourism and aviation, has served on a wide range of Government Boards and is currently Managing Director of Bodden Corporate Ltd, a corporate and immigration services company.

Jim Scott is an Architect and Project Manager who arrived in the Cayman Islands in 1981 after working in Antigua and Bermuda. He worked for OBM Architects for many years before joining the Cayman Islands Government. He has a specific interest in sustainable development.

Ms Natalie Urquhart is the Director the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. In addition to serving as an adviser on several other cultural committees, Natalie is a council member of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce. In 2010 she was awarded a Star of Creativity at the National Arts and Culture Awards for her long-standing contribution to culture and received the 2011 Young Caymanian Leadership Award.

Gary Benham is the Head of the Governor’s Office in Grand Cayman.  He has previously served in diplomatic postings to Chile, Tunisia, Cambodia and South Africa.

Ms Jacqueline Bleicher is an Urban Designer and Registered and Chartered Architect currently with the Department of Planning, Cayman Islands Government. She also serves as President of the Society of Cayman Architects, Surveyors and Engineers. Jacqueline is well travelled and has lived and worked both in the Caribbean and Great Britain.

Heber Arch MBE is the current President of the Cayman Contractors Association and is Chairman of the Board of Arch and Godfrey (Cayman) Ltd. He is a Professional Engineer and Chartered Builder with 43 years experience in the local construction industry. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building and the Cayman Society of Architects, Surveyors and Engineers.

HE the Governor Duncan Taylor will select the winning design from the short listed entries.  His decision will be announced at a reception at Government House on 25 July.  On the same evening a second award for excellence in sustainability will also be announced.  The Governor not only selects the nomination shortlisted by the judges to receive his Award, but acts as an advisor to the Award programme itself. “I am honoured to have the opportunity to endorse this award programme- it promotes high standards of design in the Cayman Islands,” he said. “The panel of judges appointed is a very knowledgeable group, each bringing their own perspective to the shortlist selection process.”

Editors’ Notes

The Governors Award aims to encourage, foster and maintain innovation, sustainability and excellence in the Cayman Islands construction industry. The application process is open to all projects small or large. Projects only need to demonstrate why it is special in any one or more areas of environmental friendliness, Caymanian style, uniqueness, or any other aspect that the team feels is important. For example, a small renovation that embraces Caymanian design, is LEED certified and has a unique automation system, could win the award over a multi-story building that lacks real Cayman design elements and environmental friendliness.

Submissions for the Governor’s Award are judged on the nominated project’s inclusion of these attributes:

•          Design Excellence

•          Creativity and Innovation

•          Sustainability and the Environment

•          Value

•          Buildability

•          Cultural Response

The Judges look for clearly presented nominations that concisely inform them of the project scope and its response to these criteria. Entering a project allows nominators to be associated with the Award programme’s ideals, growth and success and also demonstrates a commitment to excellence in design and construction in the Cayman Islands. The Award recipient will be announced on Thursday 25 July, 2013 at an Award Ceremony at the Governor’s House.

Sponsors of the Governor’s Award are

•          Cayman National (Main Sponsor)

•          Cayman First Insurance (Launch Event Sponsor)

•          Cox Lumber Co

•          A.L. Thompson’s

•          C.L. Flowers and Sons

•          Kirk Home Centre

•          National Concrete

•          MC2 Design Group and Real Life Magazine

About CASE

The Cayman Society of Architects, Surveyors & Engineers is a self-regulating body which coordinates the professional development within the Design and Construction industries in the Cayman Islands. CASE’s main role is to advance the study of the Art and science of Architecture, Surveying and Engineering and allied construction professions in the Cayman Islands.

www.CASEcayman.com

About CCA

The Cayman Contractors Association is a self-regulating body formed in order to create uniform ethics for the construction industry and to provide assurance to potential clients that if a CCA member was chosen to construct a project, the outcome would be successful. That standard continues today and CCA members, regardless of the size of their respective businesses, are regarded as the Cayman Islands’ most honorable contractors.

www.CCA.ky

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