Product innovation to be recognised at GAI awards

A new category is set to showcase innovative product design at the next GAI/RIBA Architectural Ironmongery Specification Awards.

Organised by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the awards identify and reward excellence in the specification of architectural ironmongery.

The ‘Best new product: design and innovation’ category will celebrate new door and window hardware products, with advancing technologies set to be fully showcased and recognised.

Products using new methods of manufacture, a new design concept or displaying originality of thought would be eligible. They could also show a unique way of using a material, a new solution or a new design.

This category is not limited to mechanical products. New innovations or technologies in access control, door automation or any field allied to architectural ironmongery would also be considered.

Other categories for which projects can be nominated for include residential, commercial and hospitality, public sector health and education buildings; and international projects outside the UK and Ireland.

Architects, specifiers, building contractors, clients and their architectural ironmongery advisers and suppliers across the world can nominate projects for the 2018/19 awards from August this year.

The projects or products must be either completed or released on to the market between 1 October 2016 and 30 September 2018 to be eligible for entry.

David Stacey, president of the GAI, said: “The Specification Awards ceremony is one of the Guild’s most highly anticipated events. The calibre of entries is always incredibly high and shows architectural ironmongery at its best. The GAI is always proud to see its member companies involved in so many complex projects.

“These awards are unique because they reward the whole specification team, highlighting the importance of the professional partnership between architects and architectural ironmongers.”

There is no limit to the number of entries to the 2018/19 awards and the first entry from a GAI or RIBA member is free of charge.

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