We’ve been dropping hints about our work rebranding the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre for a long time now, so we’re very happy the day is finally here. CSIC has officially relaunched as BE-ST, or Built Environment - Smarter Transformation.

BE-ST started life as Construction Scotland Innovation Centre in 2014, a not-for-profit initiative where innovation could result in action and real-world impact. Today they are connected to over 50,000 businesses in the built environment sector and one of their key differentiating strengths is the ability to draw together academia, business and the public sector, the parts of the industry that are in the supply chain and those looking for new and innovative ways of doing things. They have always been particularly strong at interdisciplinary working and bringing people together to move beyond the theoretical. Over the last several years their reach, influence and aims have grown, and it was felt that CSIC no longer served them as a name or brand.

Today BE-ST plays a key role in Scotland’s drive for net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, and part of its mission is exposing the threat our current built environment poses to that goal, as well as funding and developing solutions to those threats. They do not shy away from imaginative ideas that lead to fundamental change, instead encouraging green thinking and driving the sustainability agenda through promotion of new materials and techniques.

BE-ST leverages and builds networks that foster an entrepreneurial spirit. We’ve worked with them on several branding projects that they’ve been involved in bringing to life, such as Accelerate to Zero, Transforming Timber and GenZero, which we’ve written about elsewhere in these pages. They were instrumental in representing the built environment sector during COP26, hosting a multi-day showcase at their innovation factory featuring 21 events, 42 speakers, and 27 million people reached via social media engagement.

On the 27th of April Tangent was invited to the Innovation Factory, along with over a hundred other guests, for an event which seemed to be named BE-ST. In impressively dramatic style, our clients surprised their guests with the new name and brand identity before treating them to a day of inspiring talks, flowing food and drink, and tours of their space, now fully decked out in the new visual style. After working with BE-ST for so many months on their new brand that it’s become second nature to us, it was kind of brilliant to see them surprise people this way - and certainly let Tangent see some unvarnished responses to our work!

As a full, from-the-ground-up brand refresh, this was a pleasure to work on. BE-ST and Tangent developed the kind of working relationship that makes a long project like this that much easier - one built on mutual respect and a completely shared vision of what the organisation should be. We developed an initial concept based on the idea that the Innovation Factory and its staff itself is the connection between the construction industry and government, academia and the public sector. We landed on Built Environment - Smarter Transformation as a reflection of where CSIC’s journey up to that point had really brought them - no longer tied solely to construction; no longer a single entity based in Scotland, but something bigger, broader and with more spectacular aims in mind. It’s not about being the best, it’s about doing your best, and bringing out the best in each other.

The connecting device between Built Environment and Smarter Transformation is crucial. This is the spark of innovation that leads to transformative change, which is why it continuously cycles through different unique shapes - you never know what’s going to spark the next big idea.

As a studio, Tangent strives to work on projects that aim to better the world we live in. BE-ST shares this ethos and truly is changing the built environment in tangible ways, continuously building towards a low carbon, eco-conscious future.

It’s been great to work with them on this rebrand. Full case study coming soon.