paroc panel system magazine

• Text Kevin Slack, Chairman, Paroc Panel System Award 2000 Committee
Paroc Panel
System
Award 2000
Introduction
The Award 2000 committee
was invited to Parainen, Finland,
to judge the entries for the Award.
The committee comprised:
Kevin Slack
– Architect, UK (Chairman)
Markku Mäkinen
– Structural Engineer, Finland
Kim Eklund – Architect, Finland
Esko Brunila – Paroc Panel System
John Lynderup – Paroc Panel System
6 THE MAGAZINE
The Paroc Panel System AWARD 2000 initiative attracted
a good crop of entries and the winning projects represent
a wide range of applications of the system. Chairman
of the Judges, architect Kevin Slack, discusses the process
and sets-out the committee’s response to the projects as
presented.
The Process
John Lynderup, organiser of the initiative,
presented the projects to the committee in two
stages: a short introduction on slide with twofour
images, followed by a complete project
presentation on display boards. Criteria for
assessment were agreed, and the committee
agreed to seek four or five winners of a prize
of Euro1000, in addition to the overall winner
of the Euro10000 Award.
The standard and range of entries impressed
the committee, covering industrial, commercial,
retail and leisure projects. 25 projects, in 11
countries, were shortlisted in total, and their
usage of the Paroc Panel System – all façade
applications – generally fell into three groups:
1. Projects using the panel system as the primary
cladding material
2. Projects using the panel system in conjunction
with other façade materials
3. Projects using the panel system as a structural
liner to be clad with other façade materials,
such as rainscreen.
In addition, one or two projects demonstrated
a ‘one-off’ approach to the application of the
system and a couple of projects did not meet the
criterion of a completed building project.
Inspecting the presentation boards in detail, each
committee member then shortlisted up to five
projects, for the whole committee to discuss. Out
of this process, four clear favourites emerged,
and a spirited discussion took place as to the
merits of each of these, and of the all the schemes.
The committee was, according to the award
criteria, looking for:
• Overall architectural design
• Rational application – appropriate of use of
the Panel System
• Integration with other components and materials
• Detailing and innovative solutions
As the discussion developed, and the important
criteria emerged, other projects not even on the
shortlist began to be considered. The final choice
of one winner and four runners-up, together with
two highly commended projects, displayed a
range of applications of the Paroc Panel System.