The Warsaw Metropolitan won the 2004 MIPIM Award in the Business Centres category. The purpose of the MIPIM Awards is to reward the world’s most remarkable property developments of the year.

All the shortlisted projects were exhibited throughout the duration of MIPIM so that the 15,000 plus property professionals attending could vote for the winner. The nominated buildings had to meet very high criteria: infrastructure and facilities access, site integration, originality of the concept, technical and architectural qualities, and integration of services.

The use of under-floor air conditioning and extensive basement level services reticulation assisted the commercial viability of the scheme by enabling an additional floor to be built. The result was seven floors above ground, where only six would have been expected.

Delivering this required Roger Preston and Partners, and their office in Poland, Roger Preston Polska, to work very closely with the client, architect and structural engineer. The homogeneous architectural appearance belies three distinct buildings, which allied to an appropriate services strategy, provides long term letting flexibility.

The building was entered by the developer Hines Polska with recommendations of support from Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczynski. The lead architect was Lord Norman Foster, while Roger Preston and Partners were the building services engineers.

Geoffrey Palmer, Director responsible for the delivery of the project, said "We were delighted to have been part of such a dynamic team delivering this successful project. To have been recognised through the MIPIM award is really the icing on the cake. For a Polish building to win acknowledgement from such a prestigious body adds to our satisfaction in the work and investment we are delivering in Poland through Roger Preston Polska".

Werner Welter, President of the Jury and former Managing Director, DB Real Estate Investment GmbH (Germany) said, "MIPIM in Cannes still is the most important international property fair. Along with this the MIPIM Awards are the most prestigious distinctions in the property world. It is the "Oscar" for the Property Industry".

http://www.mipim.com