Trade Arabia reported that Bahrain World Trade Center has won the prestigious 2009 Nova Award in Innovation.

The Nova awards identify projects that have been proven to display significant technological advances and have had positive, important effects on construction to improve quality and reduce cost. The BWTC’s win was announced at the Nova Award Banquet in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Officially certified by Bahrain’s Electricity Distribution Directorate early in 2009, the BWTC's three 29 metre diameter turbines are fully operational and are currently supplying 11% to 15% of the 50 storey office towers’ energy requirements.

Mr Bob Addison of DTZ, the BWTC’s managing and leasing agents said that “Winning a Nova award from the renowned Construction Innovation Forum is clear evidence that the Bahrain World Trade Center has made an extraordinary contribution to the technological progress within the region’s construction industry, especially in relation to the built environment.”

Bahrain’s familiar twin towers are on the cusp of international sustainability agendas and are well known as one of the catalysts in changing the approach of Middle East developers towards a future of energy efficient design.

Designed by Atkins, the world’s eighth largest design firm, the iconic building is the first in the world to suspend electricity generating wind turbines between 2 commercial tower structures, surpassing existing construction boundaries.

Mr Shaun Killa design director of Atkins said that “The BWTC sets a technological precedent which we hope raises the awareness of environmental design and its importance in the built environment and we hope it paves the way for designers and clients to incorporate renewables and energy efficient measures into their future developments to reduce carbon emissions.”

(Sourced from Trade Arabia)