Liverpool school scoops architects awards
A LIVERPOOL school has been unveiled the winner of a Royal Institute of British Architect’s (RIBA) Building of the Year award in the North West.
The £16.5m project at St John Bosco Art College, designed by the Manchester studio of BDP, also scooped the client of the year category, which was presented to Liverpool City Council and the school’s head teacher Anne Pontifex.
The prestigious awards are held annually to celebrate buildings of the highest architectural standards and which make a substantial contribution to the local environment. Regional winners are put forward for the RIBA National Awards, with the recipients announced in June.
It is the second year in a row that a BDP scheme has been awarded these honours in the region, with Enterprise South Liverpool Academy in Garston taking home the same two accolades in 2014.
Mark Braund, architect director, BDP said: “It is a great achievement for BDP to win another RIBA North West Award and demonstrates our strength in the educational sector.
“The Client of the Year award for St John Bosco Arts College and Liverpool City Council also shows our ability to collaborate productively with clients in order to deliver quality architecture that matches the individual needs of the school.
“The project was delivered at a cost per m2 below the government’s indicative budget for schemes of this nature, and at £16.5m is the lowest cost school per metre in BDP’s history – this clearly demonstrates our ability to deliver award-winning transformational learning environments on the tightest of budgets.”
A new-build secondary 1,100 place girls’ school, St John Bosco Arts College is housed in a 91m x 55m three storey, single-span column free environment containing a mix of open-plan and cellular learning and social spaces, all focused on a sculpted landscape set at the heart of the school.
Ms Pontifex said: “Pupils, staff and parents have waited a long time for our new school, but now it has been completed we are all absolutely thrilled with the finished project. Our partnership with BDP developed into an open, honest and creative relationship, which enabled ideas, theory and the concept of truly ‘thinking outside the box’ to take place.
“As a result, we have what I believe is a unique, exciting and stimulating school, which supports our already outstanding teaching and learning. These two strands will enable young people to achieve their true potential.”
In addition the college has been shortlisted as one of 12 projects for the Architects’ Journal building of the year. This coveted award is given in recognition of the finest building that has been completed by an AJ120-listed practice in 2014. The winner will be announced on June 3.
