BDP triumphs at Civic Trust Awards

The Building Design Partnership (BDP) triumphed with two recognitions at the Civic Trust Awards 50th Anniversary ceremony at the Emirates Stadium in London. The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and Victoria Square in Belfast both received top awards at the event which was established to recognise the very best in architecture, urban design, landscape and public art, with particular emphasis on the positive impact these developments have on communities. BDP also received a commendation for Debenhams, an anchor store for the new Liverpool One retail development, and a mention for Leigh Technology Academy in Dartford.

Westminster Academy in London also won an award. BDP was lead consultant on the project working closely with architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. BDP also provided an interdisciplinary team including structural and environmental engineering, lighting, interior design and landscape architecture. BDP was also services engineer and acoustic consultant for Strule Arts Centre in Omagh which also did not go unmentioned.

The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton which opened last year, has already won the top award from the International Academy for Design & Health, and the coveted Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award. One of only seven dedicated paediatric hospitals in the UK, it has been designed not to feel like a hospital. A top priority was for daylight and the design of shallow floors with day lit spaces has made the building very sustainable and the atmosphere pleasant for patients.

The Civic Trust citation reads: “The scheme successfully meets the challenge of integrating the proposed paediatric hospital within an already congested medical site. Through careful design, the scheme has placed a window in all inhabited rooms, including operating theatres, making the hospital a pleasant and airy working environment. The scheme has made an important civic contribution to Brighton’s skyline.”

The client was Kajima Construction Europe/Brighton & Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust. BDP was appointed as architect, interior designer, building services engineer, civil and structural engineer, lighting designer and acoustic consultant for the £37m project.

Victoria Square, designed by a full interdisciplinary BDP design team, opened to the public on March 6, 2008, and has already picked up a BCSC Gold Award. With a construction cost of approximately £165m, the scheme is based on an open street model more prevalent in mainland European cities: it is an urban grain streetscape connecting with the city, and establishing new relationships between previously disjointed areas of the public realm.

The Civic Trust citation reads: “The scheme has filled a retail gap without resorting to a standard mall, and provides a well used civic facility. The showpiece dome in the centre of the scheme provides an unusual viewing area which has become an iconic image on the city skyline.”

BDP was architect (concept design with T+T Design), landscape architect, planner, civil & structural engineer, environmental engineer and acoustic consultant. The Client was Multi Development UK and main contractor was FGA (a joint venture between Farrans and Gilbert Ash).

BDP is the largest interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists in Europe who maintain a strong philosophy when carrying out their projects whether it be a park, housing scheme or retail centre. Their priority is to create outstanding places for people, putting the user at the centre of the design to produce better results through integrated and innovative teams. Peter Drummond, Chief Executive, BDP said: “Our ambition is to be an irresistible international practice, a sought-after firm which consistently designs and delivers outstanding buildings for clients worldwide.” It would seem the public and their peers agree as these two prestigious awards clearly highlight.

For further information:
Contact Martin Davies, BDP bdp.com
Telephone: +44 [0]20 7812 8000