During a Gala for the Dutch Building Prize, which took place on Wednesday 11th February, the consortium DUO2 was awarded the prize for ‘Integrated Design and Construction’ for the IBG and Tax Offices in Groningen. The prize is awarded biannually for processes, services, products or projects which have made an exceptional contribution to quality in construction, particularly in relation to innovation or the impact of sustainability on the building industry.

Jury comments:
“The jury appreciates the design, as it is a good example of integrated design in three dimensions: the integration of disciplines (1) is established from the beginning by all the experts who participated in the design process. The integration of abstractions (2), where form, function and

structure led to integrated solutions through their organization. The innovative concept of the façade is an example of this. The integration of the lifespan (3) has been shaped by a life cycle approach, whereby the usage of the building has been conscientiously included in the design, not only in terms of maintenance but also with consideration of future scenarios for reuse.”

DUO2 is a consortium made up of Strukton, Ballast Nedam and John Laing. The architect is UNStudio in Amsterdam. The subcontractors are Lodewijk Baljon landscape architects, ISS and YNNO. Arup and Studio Linse have played an important advisory role.