University is top of the class

Oct 19 2007 By Graeme King, The Journal

THE high flyers of the region’s property industry gathered in Newcastle to see Northumbria University’s striking new City Campus East named as The Journal’s North-East Landmark of the Year.

A record attendance of well over 300 property professionals celebrated at a ceremony to toast the winners of the fourth annual Landmark Awards at the Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel.

Judges praised the gleaming new home of Northumbria University’s business, law and design schools which now houses up to 9,000 students and staff.

The Northumbria building, floodlit each night, also took home the public sector award – one of six categories judged by a distinguished panel.

Winners were also announced in the categories for retail/leisure, office development, environmental, residential development and – new this year – the ‘judge’s gem’ for smaller scale developments.

The building excellence awards, which are also supported by surveyor GVA Lamb & Edge and Allied Irish Bank (GB), were introduced to highlight regional building excellence and reward developments that highlight the best in concept, design and construction.

The Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “These awards are about showing off building excellence in the North-East and with such a large pool of high quality entries to consider, the panel of judges had some very tough decisions to make.

“The awards prove we have an impressive array of design and building talent in the region and a collection of new buildings we can be proud of.”

The judges praised the standard of entries, saying they had enhanced the region and made their task in choosing winners very difficult.

Prizes were awarded on the night to the architect, developer and contractor for the winning project.

Rob Langley, managing partner of Watson Burton LLP, said: “The wealth of talent that goes into our fantastic buildings was rightly recognised and rewarded tonight. Landmark has yet again attracted some excellent submissions and outstanding winners.”

The firm’s head of property, Richard Freeman-Wallace, added: “Across all categories, Landmark has put the spotlight on the people who make a huge difference to the North-East – the developers, architects and contractors.”

The judging panel included Jeff Alexander of Surgo Construction; John Burns of Mackellar Architecture; Rita Callender of The Environment Practice; John Holmes, formerly of One NorthEast and now with Hull Citybuild; Simon Murray of CITB ConstructionSkills; Paul Tognarelli from Allied Irish Bank (GB); Tony Wordsworth of GVA Lamb & Edge; and Phil Young of Dunelm Castle Homes.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2007 winners and runners-up

The Journal North-East Landmark of the Year: Northumbria University City Campus East.

Retail/leisure Award winner: The Lakeside Centre, Killingworth, North Tyneside.

Runners-up: Performing Arts Building, Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.

Dolphin Centre refurbishment, Darlington.

Office Development Award winner: Fire Control Centre, Belmont, Durham.

Runners-up: Cobalt 13 B&C, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside.

Archers Law building, Stockton.

Environmental Award winner: The Wynd, Amble

Runners-up: Northumbria University City Campus East, Newcastle.

Highfield Community Primary School, Sunderland.

Public Sector Award winner: Northumbria University City Campus East, Newcastle.

Runners-up: The Lakeside Centre, Killingworth

Easington Lane Primary School, South Hetton, Houghton-le-Spring

Residential Development Award winner: Echo 24, Sunderland.

Runners-up: The Wynd, Amble.

Clements Wharf, Durham.

Judges Gem Award winner: The Round Theatre, Ouseburn, Newcastle.

Runners-up: Musgrave School, Low Fell, Gateshead.

Gateway to the Ouseburn, Ouseburn, Newcastle.

Style: The new Northumbria University campus, winner of two Landmark awards.