MEP Awards: Atkins wins Consultancy of the Year

Richard Smith from Atkins

RELATED ARTICLES: MEP Awards: Al Shirawi wins Specialist Contractor | MEP Awards: Dubai Studio City wins Sustainability | MEP Awards: Paul Allen is Engineer of the Year | MEP Awards: CKR wins Specialist Consultancy | MEP Awards: Ferrari World is Project of the Year | MEP Awards: Hassan Youness is Young Engineer | MEP Awards: Devnath Sampath wins Project Manager | MEP Awards: Red Engineering wins Innovation | MEP Awards: BK Gulf wins health and safety |  MEP Awards: Voltas is contractor of the year

Atkins won Middle East MEP Consultancy of the Year at the MEP Awards 2010, held last night at the Westin in Dubai.

The judges said all the nominees showed commitment to deliver projects at the highest level of design skill. “They are all highly respected in the region, have reputations for quality and deliver to excellent standards.”

There was one Highly Commended nominee: the judges praised KEO International Consultants for its commitment to develop resources, both human and technical. But the winners, for the second year running, was Atkins.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT I PERSONALLY WISH ALL THE BEST TO ALL THE WINNER WORKING WITH ME ON ALL LEADING PROJECTS FOR ELV. VIPIN GUPTA TECH FOR   1 Comments Read more comments »

In accepting the award, Richard Smith, chair of carbon critical design at Atkins said, “I’m absolutely delighted to win, and to be holding the trophy again. We’ve been through a challenging period, and we’re all well aware of the difficulties businesses have had to face over the past two years.

“Everyone in the industry has had to take a hard look at themselves and address core business issues. The key for us has been in understanding the situation, and working with our clients to deliver what they need,”

“We’ve also clung on to our Carbon Critical ideals. It’s a company directive, not an option, and it’s something we focus on closely and can set goals on achieving. Sustainability is too broad and complicated an area.”

“The market has changed form one which is vertical – high rises – to one which is more horizontal, one which is more elegant in its design and more focused on people. More elegant designs and ideas are the future.”

In naming Atkins as this year's winners, the judging panel said, " the winner also has the ability to draw on some great in-house architectural skills that allows the MEP design excellence to still shine through, all wrapped up in a singular commitment to delivery.

“It is a champion of integrated design, allowing MEP engineers to be involved at all stages of infrastructure delivery."

“It supports research-and-development into new design techniques, helping to nurture and inspire the next generation,” said the judges.

During the last year alone, this consultancy has completed several key projects, from Iris Bay to the Dubai Metro.