Renaissance Awards are launched for another year

Sep 3 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

NORTHUMBRIA University’s director of estates Trevor Thurlow yesterday kicked off this year’s search for the winners of the Renaissance Awards.

The property awards scheme, run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), has now officially opened nominations with Mr Thurlow representing last year’s overall winner, the university’s City Campus East.

The first honour won by City Campus East in the last year was the overall title of Landmark of the Year in The Journal’s Landmark Awards last November.

There are eight categories in the Renaissance Awards that cover most types of project. They are commercial; residential; design and innovation; regeneration; sustainability; community benefit; leisure and tourism; and building conservation. The Project of the Year is the entry judged to have scored the highest across all categories.

Michael Henning, regional chairman of Rics, said: “We always attract entries from talented property developers, civil engineers, planners, architects and, of course, surveyors who want to promote their high-profile projects and clients.

“Size is not an issue as we consider projects of all types but the judges will look for excellence in design and execution. Two topics taken into consideration are value for money and sustainability – both of which are increasingly important given the current economic climate.

“The North East is bursting at the seams with creative and construction industry talent and I can’t wait to see the entries.”

Following the collation of entries and judging process, the Rics North East Renaissance Awards will be presented at a dinner next April at Newcastle’s Civic Centre.

The closing date for entries is January 23, 2009.