The Point and Stockport College scoop architects’ awards
THE Point, the new exhibition space at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s Old Trafford Ground, won the “people’s award” at the Manchester Society of Architects Design awards last week, while while an £18m facility for Stockport College by Austin-Smith Lord won overall building of the year.
The Point building won the MSA’s ‘People Prize’, which was picked by way of balloting visitors who attended an exhibition at the Cube gallery in the week prior to the awards.
Mewanwhile, the Sir Joseph Whitworth and Dame Joan Bakewell buildings secured the overall prize from a Manchester Society of Architects’ judging panel. The buildings contain 95,000 sq ft of space used as specialist construction and engineering workshops, teaching space and student facilities.
Maggie Mullan, project partner at Austin-Smith:Lord, said: “As the first of a number of new buildings planned for the campus, this is a very important scheme for Stockport College. To be recognised by our peers in this way is a huge honour.”
Gavin Elliot, Chair of BDP’s Manchester Studio and chief designer of The Point, said:his firm was “really proud” to have landed the People’s Award.
“When the scheme was first announced the designs definitely raised a few eyebrows in both cricket and design circles, so the fact with nearly 100 top class projects to chose from the Manchester public voted The Point as their favourite is a fantastic endorsement of a truly innovative design.”
Meanwhile, _Space Group best commercial scheme for its restoration of Mansion House Chambers in Newcastle upon Tyne.
An exhibition containing images of all the winning schemes will remain on display at the Cube Gallery on Portland St until Saturday, 21 May.
