Memphis clinches 'Oscar'

Oct 8 2009 By The Journal

THE transformation of a building at a Tees Valley business park has been named the best project of its kind in Britain. Darlington’s Lingfield Point has won the national honour for its Memphis building - which has been named best refurbished/recycled workplace in the UK at the National British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards in London.

Memphis, left, which has been created from wool factory buildings originally constructed in the 1950s, is now occupied by the Student Loans Company and 650 of its staff. It celebrates the building’s history - with its industrial loft-style space - but has also created a contemporary, inspiring environment for its workforce. Memphis is also a low-energy sustainable development.

Securing the national accolade follows on from Memphis winning the regional BCO award earlier this year. The building also recently won the Best Commercial Property Development at the Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors’ North East Renaissance Awards and is shortlisted for the national RICS awards due to be announced later this month.

John Orchard, director of developers Marchday, said: “These awards are the equivalent of the Oscars for the office industry and the national acclaim they carry is extremely significant.”

More than 250,000sq ft of property has already been converted at Lingfield Point. Marchday’s new £100m masterplan, recently approved by Darlington Council planners, will see the creation of a sustainable mixed community built around the existing business development, providing up to 1,220 homes, sports facilities, a school, healthcare facilities and public green open space.