BCA UNIVERSAL DESIGN AWARDS FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Introduction
The BCA Universal Design Awards was launched in 2007 to promote the adoption of Universal Design in the built environment and to raise awareness among owners, developers, designers and builders on incorporating user-friendly features at the onset of project conceptualization and design. The Award accords recognitions to organisations and individuals for their exemplary efforts in embracing Universal Design in their developments.
Entry criteria
The Competition is open to all owners, developers and professionals in
creating an inclusive built- environment that could be used by all
people. There is no restriction on the number of entries that each
individual, firm or team can submit. The development must have obtained
Temporary Occupation Permit/ Certificate of Statutory Completion and be
occupied at the time of submission of entry to be deemed qualified for
assessment. BCA reserves the right to disqualify any participating
individual/ firm/ team.
Assessment criteria and scoring system
BCA Universal Design Awards evaluate a building for its features that
benefit not only to special groups but everyone. Buildings are awarded
the BCA Universal Design Awards based on seven key criteria:-
| 1 |
Connectivity |
15 pts (10 pts only for Residential Buildings
Category) |
| 2 |
Accessibility |
10 |
| 3 |
User-Friendliness |
40 |
| 4 |
Safety |
15 |
| 5 |
Integrated Design |
10 pts (15 pts for Residential Buildings Category) |
| 6 |
Operations & Maintenance |
10 |
| 7 |
BONUS for Innovation and Enhancement |
25 |
Under the Universal Design Awards assessment system, points are
awarded for incorporating Universal Design features, which are over and
above Code-compliance and the normal practice. The total number of points
obtained provides an indication of the inclusiveness of the building
design. Buildings are awarded Gold, Silver
or Bronze rating depending on the points scored.
All entries are grouped into one of the following six building categories:
- Commercial/ Mixed Use/ Industrial Buildings
- Institutional Buildings
- Residential Buildings
- Open Category
- Outdoor Spaces & Structures
- Refurbished Buildings
Assessment committee
All entries will be judged by an Assessment Committee comprising senior representatives from the following organizations and professionals in their own capacity:
- Building and Construction Authority
- Council for Third Age
- Handicap Welfare Association
- National University of Singapore
- Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore
- Singapore Association of Occupational Therapists
- Singapore Institute of Architects
- Society for the Physically Disabled
Applications and assessment process
Developers, building owners and government agencies are to submit an entry form to BCA to register
their interest in participating in the BCA Universal Design Awards.
Alternatively, applicants can log on to our new Friendly Built
Environment Portal www.friendlybuildings.sg and submit the application
through e-Entry. All submission requirements including the A3- sized
report (max 15 pages), Universal Design Awards Accessibility Checklist
and CD/DVD with clear sharp digital images at 300 dpi resolution, are to
reach BCA by 1700hrs, 17 January 2012.
The assessors will evaluate all entries and shortlist them for site
visits. The short-listed entrants will be required to make a presentation
to the assessors on the outstanding and innovative Universal Design
qualities of the submitted projects prior the walk-around conducted by
the entrants.
For any clarifications on the BCA Universal Design Awards, please
email BCA Universal Design Awards Secretariat at bca_bfa_upgrading@bca.gov.sg.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR BCA UNIVERSAL DESIGN AWARDS
| Description |
| Part 1 : Connectivity – 15 points (10 points only for Residential Buildings Category) |
The degree to which the development is designed in a
holistic manner to allow for seamless connection to public transport
nodes, streets, sidewalks and adjacent buildings etc and seamless
movement within the buildings with provisions such as wide circulation
paths and doorways and access to all levels of building by ramps and/
accessible lifts and/ ambulant friendly stairs. |
| Part 2 : Accessibility - 10 points |
The availability and convenience of provisions such
as safe and sheltered accessible alighting and boarding points,
conspicuous accessible parking lots located near main or lift lobbies,
family friendly facilities like family room, seats and child-friendly
sanitary facilities and other amenities such as accessible information
counter, friendly drinking fountain, vending machine, friendly
multimedia kiosk, ATM, WiFi access, friendly directory, electric carts,
AED (automated external defibrillator), PA system with induction loop. |
| Part 3 : User-Friendliness - 40 points |
The provision of signage and way finding cues such
as audible information, tactile directional indicators and color or
visual themes at main circulation spaces & leading to public
transport nodes and UD facilities; and the degree to which the design
of signage and way-finding cues are easy to read, understand and
intuitive regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language
skills or current concentration level. |
| Part 4 : Safety - 15 points |
The degree to which walking surfaces are made safe
and secure with attention to details such as choice of materials,
design without gratings, free of obstacles and dangerous overhangs,
provision of adequate lighting and handrails/ trailing bars,
contrasting colour and design clearly distinguishing floors and walls,
stairs and landings and provision of tactile warning indicators near
edge of potential hazardous areas. |
| Part 5 : Integrated Design – 10 points (15 points
for Residential Buildings
Category) |
The demonstration of total design approach for
targeted user groups in the layout design and the integration of
tastefully-designed and equitable use facilities and features with the
overall architecture and interior design of the building. |
| Part 6 : Operations & Maintenance - 10 points |
The degree to which the organization is committed to
creating and maintaining an inclusive built environment through the
establishment of corporate policy which is clearly communicated to
employees, mandating regular inspections to ensure good working
condition of facilities, equipping employees in Universal Design
through training, and providing avenues for users to give feedback and
authority for employees to render assistance to feedback givers.
GRAND TOTAL FOR PARTS 1-6 = 100 points
|
| Part 7 : BONUS for Innovation and Enhancement - 25 points |
The provision of other new or innovative
aging-in-place, pro-family and or employee-friendly UD facilities or
features and accessible escape routes and systems for the physically
challenged, such as Braille on stairs railings, rental of wheelchair,
pram, accessibility scooters, etc; and the commitment and efforts of
refurbished building owners in overcoming the challenges of existing
constraints.
TOTAL FOR PART 7 = 25 points
|
* Points will be deducted for non-compliant and substandard provisions.
Right click here to
download the BCA Universal Design Awards 2011/12 entry form.
Learning Points
The 'Learning Points' of the BCA Universal Design Awards for the Built
Environment serves to highlight to the industry on the features that
contributes to the user-friendliness of building facilities, and
observations on areas which can be further improved. Through this, BCA
hopes to inculcate in the industry stakeholders, a motto to “design-for-all”,
so as to transform our built environment into one that is truly friendly
to people of all ages and abilities. The points are compiled from the
past 5 years award winners
Award winning features |
