Top building awards launched

Oct 19 2007 By Graeme King, The Journal

Looking for landmarks in North's public sector

THE judges of The Journal’s fifth Landmark Awards have turned their attention in a new direction this week.

With the closing date for entries now just over six weeks away, our expert panel are calling for the teams behind the region’s top public sector developments to shout from the rooftops about their achievements.

Developers in this arena have some big shoes to fill, after the success last year of Northumbria University’s City Campus East, which went on to claim the overall Landmark of the Year prize.

The previous year saw Usworth Sixth Form College triumph, and in 2005 The Sage Gateshead took both the public sector and Landmark of the Year gongs.

The Landmark Awards, which are presented in partnership with Newcastle law firm Watson Burton, are intended to recognise and reward the cream of the region’s building industry.

The judges of the public sector award are looking for projects of any size which can include new buildings or extensions/developments to existing facilities.

The entries can be schools, universities, colleges or training centres, public libraries, museums, hospitals, local authority owned leisure centres, parks or public transport facilities.

For each of the six Landmark categories, the panel will select one winner, with the architect, developer and contractor for the winning project each receiving an award. As well as the public sector prize, there are awards for retail and leisure, office development, environmental, public sector, residential development, and the judges’ gem for smaller schemes.

The overall North East Landmark of the Year Award will be selected from one of the six category winners.

Landmark will culminate in a black-tie event at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park, on Thursday, October 16. Last year’s packed event attracted more than 300 members of the region’s property sector.

The main sponsor of the awards is Newcastle law firm Watson Burton. The firm’s 41-strong property department completed a record £1.7bn worth of transactions last year, and has built on that even further during a very busy 2008.

Headed by partner Richard Freeman-Wallace, the property department boasts an impressive list of clients, many involved in high-profile new developments throughout the country.

For an entry form or to book a table at the dinner, which is sponsored by One NorthEast, go to www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-events/building-industry-awards

Alternatively call Kirsty Tarn on (0191) 201-6072, email: kirsty.tarn@ncjmedia.co.uk  or download an entry form at www.journallive.co.uk/landmarkawards.

The closing date is August 22.