Five Structural Steel Projects Commended at Structural Steel Design Awards 2026

The Structural Steel Design Awards (SSDA) 2026 recognised five projects for technical excellence in steel design and construction. The commended schemes cover urban commercial retrofits, large-scale industrial facilities, and vital infrastructure restoration. In London, the retrofit of 334 Oxford Street extended an existing six-storey department store into a nine-storey mixed-use development by integrating existing riveted steelwork with new lightweight steel framing to manage differential settlement. Also on Oxford Street, The Ribbon replaced a 1960s building using an exposed steel frame with 12m clear spans and cellular beams to integrate building services within structural depth. Industrial and infrastructure highlights include BAE Govan's enclosed shipbuilding workshop in Glasgow, featuring 35m-high lattice columns and 18 roof trusses assembled with pre-installed MEP services at ground level. In Dublin, the redevelopment of The Bakery Building added over 7,500m2 of office space by transferring loads from existing columns to new mini-piles via welded corbels, flat jacks, and transfer beams. In Ukraine, the restored Vyshhorod Bridge re-established heavy goods transport near Kyiv using 1.5m-deep steel plate girders across three new spans to replace damaged concrete decks.

Key takeaways

• 334 Oxford Street in London combined retained six-storey riveted steel with new framing to form a nine-storey structure, accommodating differential settlement.
• BAE Govan's shipyard hall in Glasgow utilised 35m lattice columns and pre-assembled MEP on roof trusses at ground level to limit work at height.
• The Bakery Building in Dublin transferred structural loads to new mini-piles using welded corbels, flat jacks, and steel transfer beams.
• Ukraine's Vyshhorod Bridge used 1.5m-deep steel plate girders to rapidly replace damaged concrete spans, supported by a £26.3 million UKEF loan guarantee.