Demolition defies Covid-19 with healthy entry to World awards

Demolition contractors and equipment suppliers have defied the ongoing problems caused by the Coronavirus pandemic to send in their entries for the annual World Demolition Awards.

The awards are part of the World Demolition Summit and though there was a slight drop on the record numbers of entries put forward in 2018 and 2019, the shortlists for this year’s online ceremony will be as strong as ever.

Honouring innovation and best practice in the industry across 12 categories, the shortlists are drawn up from projects executed or products launched between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. So even with Covid-19 taken into account, there was still around nine months of normal business to draw on for entrants – and they were quick to take the opportunity.

Industrial Demolition, Urban Demolition and the two Contract of the Year categories drew the biggest responses, but all categories look set to be keenly contested.

The entries now go into a shortlisting process led by our nine-person international judging panel, of Henrik Bonnesen (Cowi), Francisco Cobo (president, European Demolition Association), Dan Costello (Costello Dismantling) Clinton Dick (Liberty Industrial), Patrick Frye (Cardem), Jim Graham (Winter Environmental), Bill Moore (ERM), William Sinclair (Safedem) and John Woodward (C&D Demolition Consultants).

The World Demolition Summit is organised in co-operation with the European Demolition Association and the National Demolition Association of the USA. It takes place online on Thursday 12 November at 3pm UK time.

Headline sponsor is Volvo Construction Equipment.