Three Arup projects make 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist

Arup's multi-disciplinary engineering skills have been integral to delivering the architects’ vision for these three world-class buildings, which are shortlisted for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize.The Shard is the highly visible landmark at the heart of London Bridge Quarter, standing at 310m (1,016ft) tall.Arup has been responsible for designing the building services that have been integral to delivering Renzo Piano’s vision for this slender elegant high rise building. Arup’s innovative designs for the mechanical, electrical, public health and fire engineering services were crucial in ensuring the building’s functionality within its iconic form and complex geometry.

For Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre, Arup provided a full range of engineering and specialist services, from geotechnical and structural engineering through to mechanical engineering, acoustics and building physics. Designed from the start with long-term community use in mind, the London Aquatics Centre has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent ‘green’ building rating for its sustainable design, which includes microclimate ventilation and heating for large volume space and innovative cement mixes in the concrete structure in order to reduce the building’s embodied carbon.

“Arup is proud to have played a central role in the design of the London Aquatics Centre, which is clearly a significant addition to the architectural and social infrastructure of London. We worked closely with Zaha Hadid Architects and Balfour Beatty to deliver a building of lasting public importance.”

— Michael Stych, project director for the London Aquatics Centre, Arup

At the School of Art, Arup provided, structural, mechanical, electrical, public health (including specialist lighting), acoustics and fire engineering services on this striking building, which is seen as a reference point for future art schools. This £34million construction project saw a major refurbishment of the old 1960s tower as well as a new extension.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called this year's Stirling Prize shortlist “one of the strongest in years”. Celebrating architectural excellence, the Stirling Prize recognises the building that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture over the past year. The shortlist was drawn from 50 British projects and nine international projects receiving the 2014 RIBA National Awards.

The six exceptional shortlisted buildings will now go head-to-head for architecture’s highest accolade, to be awarded on 16 October 2014.