Four schemes scoop prizes at office awards
THREE of the five awards up for grabs at the British Council for Offices’ (BCO) North region finals went to Greater Manchester projects.
The BCO’s North Region Awards, which includes North Wales and Northern Ireland, gave the award for Best Corporate Workplace to Greater Manchester Police’s new force HQ at Central Park in Newton Heath, north Manchester.
BBC North’s new Quay House headquarters at MediacityUK in Salford Quays was also named as Best Fit-Out of Workplace, while Arts Council England’s North West office at Argent/Manchester City Council’s The Hive scheme won best project up to 2,000 sq m.
The winning projects will now be entered for the BCO’s national awards in October.
Judging chairman Tony Hordon, director of business space at DTZ, said: “The nominations for this year’s Northern awards clearly display the breadth of talent amongst the region’s architects, designers and occupiers when it comes to creating stylish and modern workplaces.
“The quality of entries this year is exceptional and it is a credit to Manchester than it has managed to win three of the awards when faced with such stiff competition.”
Richard Kauntze, chief executive of the BCO, said: “As a superbly-regenerated international city with a vibrant commercial property sector, Manchester has shown itself to be at the forefront of top quality design and functionality.
“The city has attracted some major projects breaking through within the last year, such as MediaCityUK, that highlight the diversity and creativity of the local economy.”
English Cities Fund’s 109,000 sq ft, Grade ‘A’ No 4 St Paul’s Square scheme also picked up a prize for best commercial workplace.
ECF development director Darran Lawless said: ““This award ‘cements’ No 4 St Paul’s Square’s reputation as the most significant, new commercial office development in Liverpool City Centre and recognises the new standards we have set with regards to architecture, design, quality and sustainability.”
