RCS Shortlisted for Two Construction News Awards 2026

The shortlisting for two prestigious Construction News Awards 2026 categories recognises RCS’s leadership in RAAC remediation and its role at the forefront of the UK’s response to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), delivering safe, cost-effective and sustainable solutions for complex buildings.

Company Innovation of the Year: Transforming RAAC Remediation

RCS has been shortlisted for Company Innovation of the Year for its development of an Evidence-Led RAAC Remediation Framework, a pioneering approach that is reshaping how RAAC risk is assessed and managed across the UK.

Traditionally, RAAC-affected buildings have been subject to precautionary evacuation, propping, RAAC replacement, or demolition. In many cases, this has led to sub-optimal outcomes. RCS has challenged this model by introducing a data-driven, engineering-led methodology that enables more proportionate and informed decision-making.

In 2025, RCS led a major RAAC testing programme in collaboration with Loughborough University and the Building Research Establishment (BRE). This included destructive testing of RAAC panels, simulating a wide range of scenarios, to better understand structural performance, load capacity, and bearing behaviour.

The findings have generated new industry data and are already helping to inform the revision of formal RAAC guidance, structural assessments, and remediation strategies across multiple sectors.

The learnings from the testing programme, combined with insights generated from RCS’s remediation options assessment project and the knowledge of RCS’s expert advisory panel led to the development of the framework, which has enabled clients to:

• Avoid unnecessary demolition
• Reduce embodied carbon and construction waste
• Maintain building operation and occupancy
• Deliver cost-effective, long-term remediation solutions

This innovation is setting a new benchmark for evidence-led construction and asset management in high-risk structural environments.

Specialist Contractor of the Year: Delivering Complex RAAC Projects

RCS’s shortlisting for Specialist Contractor of the Year reflects its strong performance in delivering complex RAAC remediation projects across a wide range of public and private sector organisations.

A standout project is the RAAC remediation project at Medway Council’s Gun Wharf headquarters, a Grade II-listed building with a complex pitched RAAC roof structure.

Initially, the building was considered for full roof replacement at a cost of £20 million. Following a structured assessment, RCS implemented an alternative evidence-led remediation strategy, supported by specialist testing in collaboration with Loughborough University and BRE, enabling a smart, targeted intervention rather than wholesale replacement.

This approach has:

• Preserved a critical civic building
• Enabled phased reoccupation, including court facilities
• Reduced project costs by £18m
• Minimised carbon impact and material use

RCS continues to work in major live operational environments, supporting clients including global manufacturing operations, where maintaining business continuity is essential. Its integrated evidence-led approach combines RAAC specialist structural engineering expertise, research-led insight and practical delivery, ensuring safe, cost-effective and proportionate outcomes.

Leading the UK in RAAC Expertise

Over the past year, RCS has expanded its multidisciplinary team, increased project delivery across the UK, and continued to invest in RAAC research, testing and innovation.

By combining technical excellence, sustainability and evidence-based decision making, RCS is widely recognised as a leading specialist contractor for RAAC remediation.

The Construction News Awards 2026 ceremony will take place later this year.

If you are responsible for buildings that may contain RAAC, or are exploring assessment and remediation options, RCS can support you with expert, evidence-led advice at every stage. Get in touch to speak with our team.