City Campus takes top awards

Apr 23 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

THE best new buildings in the North East have been celebrated at an awards ceremony hosted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors at Newcastle Civic Centre.

The winners of The Renaissance Awards were headed by Project of the Year winner Northumbria University’s City Campus East. The project took the sustainability prize as well as the overall award.

The striking new campus was also a big winner in The Journal Landmark Awards at the end of last year.

RICS judges described the £47m project as: “An iconic building, set within high-quality landscaped surroundings. Its innovative design captures the use of a variety of materials that have been carefully selected. Internally the buildings provide state-of-the-art flexible teaching and social areas.”

Other projects honoured included the redevelopment of Sunniside Gardens in Sunderland, the redeveloped Live Theatre on the Quayside in Newcastle, and The Alan Shearer Centre in West Denton.

Judges’ chair David Furniss, director and head of Atisreal in Newcastle, said: “It’s great to see such high standards of design and construction right here in the North East.

“Buildings like [City Campus East] can hold their own against anything else in the world, combining original thought and detailing with high quality construction and usability.”

Winners from four of the categories go through to the international RICS Awards this October in London.

Jennifer Welch, operations director for RICS North, said: “The quality of entries this year has continued to demonstrate the high standards of design and construction that the industry is achieving in the North East.”

Winners

Building Conservation

Live Theatre, Newcastle.

Commercial

Armstrong Richardson offices, Stokesley.

Community Benefit

Aspen Gardens, Stockton.

Commended: Alan Shearer Centre, Newcastle.

Design & Innovation

City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Commended: The Round, Newcastle.

Regeneration

Sunniside Gardens, Sunderland.

Residential

Tindale Towers, Bishop Auckland.

Sustainability

City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Tourism & Leisure

Live Theatre, Newcastle.

Project of the Year

City Campus East, Northumbria University, Newcastle.