The search is on for Scotland’s top engineering and construction projects completed in 2015/16 with the launch of the 2016 Saltire Society Civil Engineering Awards.

With the closing date at the end of April, this year’s Awards include brand new categories to mark the Saltire Society’s 80th year. Alongside last year’s winner, Haymarket Station refurbishment, previous winners include The Helix Park and iconic Kelpies at Falkirk, and the M80 Stepps to Haggs motorway.

The Saltire Society Awards shine a light on the vital contribution civil engineers make to Scottish life but are not reserved for large-scale projects.

New categories include the project that most beneficially impacts the people of Scotland, and an ‘infrastructure’ award which recognises excellence in the design and construction of transport, ground or water engineering, energy, waste or regeneration projects.

There is also the ability to confer special awards, which will be awarded at the discretion of the judging panel, recognising excellence in buildings, environmental improvements and projects designed by Scottish-based teams but constructed abroad.

As well as technical achievement, projects in each category are assessed on their contribution to the sustainable creation, improvement and nurturing of the physical and social environment.

Flooding, storm damage and road and bridge closures in recent months have hit the headlines, increasing public awareness of transport, flooding and energy networks and their importance to the Scottish economy and the quality of our daily lives. Many of the problems are resolved by civil engineers.

Saltire Society and Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) Presidents will join an audience of over 150 senior figures from Scotland’s construction and built environment industries at the awards ceremony in Edinburgh on the evening of Tuesday 25th October 2016.

Commenting on the awards, Saltire Society president, Magnus Linklater, said: “This is a special year for the Saltire Society as we celebrate our 80th year. It’s also an important year for the built environment in Scotland, being Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. We look forward to a wide variety of civil engineering projects from across Scotland at our special awards ceremony in October.”

Convenor of the judging panel and former chair of ICE Scotland, Gordon Pomphrey, added: “The Saltire Civil Engineering Awards represent a unique opportunity to recognise civil engineering at its best across Scotland and celebrate the achievements of the industry. The history and prestige of these awards always attract entrants of the highest standard and I very much look forward to assessing this year’s submissions.”

A video of the 2015 projects: