£183m Bristol Beacon restoration recognised for design excellence
The Bristol Beacon concert hall has won two prestigious Civic Trust awards which recognise design excellence in the built environment.
Run by the Bristol Music Trust and supported by Bristol City Council, the Bristol Beacon has been transformed into a concert hall to rival other national venues for amplified and unamplified music.
Alec French Architects supported the main contractor Willmott Dixon on the £183m restoration project which was designed by London-based architects Levitt Bernstein.
Bristol Beacon has earned a Civic Trust Award for its outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment. Winners of the award must demonstrate excellence in design, whilst being sustainable, accessible and providing a positive civic contribution.
The extensively restored concert venue also won a Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design during the same awards ceremony. The coveted award recognises projects that are exemplary in providing inclusive and accessible environments for all users, regardless of age, ability, or background, going beyond standard regulations to demonstrate best practice in universal design.
The judges described Bristol Beacon as “a stunning example of how a historic building can be transformed to meet modern needs while retaining its cultural and architectural significance”.
They added: “By revitalising this treasured landmark, the project has ensured that Bristol remains a leading city for music, education, and artistic innovation.
“In its thoughtful design and community-driven approach, the Bristol Beacon sets a global benchmark for accessible, user-centric cultural venues, showcasing the power of inclusive architecture to inspire and unite.”
David Yorke, an associate at Alec French Architects said: “We are thrilled that the Bristol Beacon has won two more prestigious awards for design excellence, having made an outstanding contribution to the quality of the built environment.
“Our role was to support the contractor, Willmott Dixon, and ensure that the full structural and services co-ordination of the inside of the building met the challenging brief, specifications and constraints.
“Regular liaison with the client team including Levitt Bernstein and structural engineers Arup meant that the original design intent was adhered to throughout the construction of this high quality and complex project.”
Bristol Beacon underwent an extensive and sensitive restoration, preserving its original character while equipping it for modern use.
The project included creating a new interior for the main hall incorporating refurbished backstage areas, restoration of the Lantern building and the second hall, introduction of a new restaurant and the creation of a third hall and a new music education centre in the cellars.
