The winner of the community category was The Word, South Shields
Runner up – Windmill Community Campus, Fife
Commended – The Box Theatre, Romford and Kings Lynn Innovation Centre, Norfolk
The Word, South Shields
Client – South Tyneside Council
Architect – FaulknerBrowns Architects
M&E Enginer – Desco
Contractor – Bowmer & Kirkland
The Word in South Shields is located on the main Grade 1 listed square and forms an important link between the town and the River Tyne as it stands at the end of the pedestrian link through the shopping area. Inside this mainly circular building the large atrium with its curved stairs offers views over the river and into the different levels of the building. The various levels provide exhibition space, library facilities, multi-functional spaces and quiet zones for private reading. The design has produced an exciting building both outwardly to the town and river, but also internally with its atrium and various levels offering different experiences to the public who use this building. It has made a considerable impact to the local community which it serves.
Windmill Community Campus, Fife
Client – Fife Council Education Services
Architect & M&E Engineers – Fife Council Property Services
Surveyor – David Adamson & Partners
Contractor – BAM Construction Ltd
The Windmill Community Campus combines a secondary school, SEN severe needs facility, public library and council services for residents all under one roof, rationalising Fife’s property estate. The panel felt it to be an excellent educational facility for teaching with its bright open atrium along with the opportunity of integration between SEN and secondary pupils. Much thought has been put into the design and this is noticeable when you become aware of the consultation process that took place with staff and other users during the design and construction process. The end result is a building worthy of its status within the community and an establishment that people want to work in and learn.
The Box Theatre, Romford
Client – Redbridge College
Architect – Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
M&E Engineer – Michael Jones Associates
Contractor – Lakehouse Construction
This project delivers much needed improved performing arts spaces for the college. The translucent back lit box creates a welcoming frontage announcing its presence to visitors especially in the evening. There is a clever use of landscaping to create a welcoming journey to the facility as well as hiding a prominent substation. The college have fully used the flexible facilities along with the community plus with a BREEAM Excellent rating, running costs for the college are low.
Kings Lynn Innovation Centre, Norfolk
Client – NWES and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
Architect – Feilden and Mawson LLP
M&E Engineer – MLM
Surveyor – AECOM
Contractor – RG Carter
This project acts as a gateway to Kings Lynn and provides rentable office space for start-up and enterprise businesses. The judges thought it was a very striking building on the horizon clearly indicating something new was developing around King’s Lynn. This is one in a series of projects that has allowed this team to develop a very slick and practical solution to the delivery of this unique facility.