This is a sponsored article on behalf of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
It's official — London's best infrastructure project has been chosen. The ICE London Civil Engineering Awards have announced the winners of categories including Greatest Contribution to London and the all-important Londonist People's Choice Award.
The annual awards aim to showcase the hidden benefits of civil engineering to society. This year's took place in the glamorous Great Hall on One George Street on 25 May.
Hosted by BBC presenter Alice Bhandukravi, and judged by a panel including MPs and CEOs, the evening revealed the most innovative and sustainable contributions to our city.
Check out which projects got gold:
Greatest Contribution to London: London Bridge Station Redevelopment
This is the highest award of the evening, and goes to the project which most beneficially impacts Londoners. The judges thought that the complex London Bridge works were a worthy champion. The redevelopment will allow the station's annual 56 million passengers to travel more easily, and hopefully much more quickly.
The redevelopment works, which have been going on for a while, will not only result in a better transport hub, but a new space for visitors and residents too =— a win-win situation.
Mayor Sadiq Khan seemed pretty chuffed about the winning project — he congratulated all of the winners, but gave a special mention to London Bridge, explaining that 'this transformation included building a new concourse the size of Wembley Stadium: a truly remarkable feat.'
Londonist People's Choice Award: Battersea Power Station Phase II
You spoke — they listened. Battersea Power Station received over 1,000 votes, from a staggering total of 4,000 votes from the public, the most ever recorded for a project in the ICE Awards.
This one involved rebuilding the power station's huge iconic chimneys — clearly they're something you think are an integral part of the city's skyline.
Infrastructure Award in Association with Carmichael: Bermondsey Dive-Under
This award is for projects that demonstrate excellent design and construction when it comes to transport, geotechnical, energy, waste, water or regeneration. The Dive-Under was a highly ambitious five year project, aiming to modernise the Victorian infrastructure, and even involved rebuilding the railway arches.
The materials that were produced from the works were all incorporated into the new structure, making it an environmentally friendly project.
Best Building Award: Guy's Cancer Centre
This was a hands-down winner for a project that combined stunning design and patient welfare. The new centre has been created as a stack of mini 'villages', each relating to a particular patient need.
Guy's is also a ground-breaker — it's the first cancer centre in the UK to have radiotherapy treatment facilities above ground floor level.
Innovation and Technology Award: Crossrail Liverpool Street - Tunnels and Platforms
According to the judges, this was a perfect example of necessity being the mother of invention. Off-site construction, drones, 3D printers and augmented reality technology were all combined with an infectious enthusiasm within the team.
Community Benefit Award: Hampstead Heath Ponds Project
This award is in association with the ICE Benevolent Fund — the Ponds project had the tricky task of affecting one community, while benefiting another. They managed to work it out, and engaged local schools while they were at it.
We should all take a second to hear what Sadiq Khan had to say: "Civil engineers are at the heart of London's success: every day we rely on their expertise to power our homes, manage our waste and get us around the capital. Without them, London would not be the thriving global city it is today."
