Property Awards Celebrate North East Renaissance
Buildings and new developments that symbolise excellence in the North East construction sector were celebrated at the RICS ‘property Oscars’ in Newcastle on 29 April 2008.

The RICS Renaissance Awards are held annually to showcase the very best projects that the North East has to offer – from retail developments to landscape gardens – and 2008 proved no exception. 

Northumbria University’s landmark City Campus East buildings, in Newcastle, took the award for Sustainability, as well as the overall accolade for Project of the Year. 

Jennifer Welch, Operations Director for RICS North, said: “The quality of entries this year has continued to demonstrate the high standards of design and construction that the industry is achieving in the North East. 

“This is the fifth year of the Renaissance Awards and we’ve seen some truly world class projects that are playing a hugely positive role in the lives of the people who live, work and relax in and around them.” 

Other projects to be honoured during the event at Newcastle’s Civic Centre included the redevelopment of Sunniside Gardens, which has become a catalyst for regeneration in the east end of Sunderland city centre, and the redeveloped Live Theatre on the Quayside in Newcastle, which won both the Tourism & Leisure and Building Conservation categories.  

“It’s great to see such high standards of design and construction right here in the North East,” said David Furniss, director and head of Atisreal in Newcastle, who chaired the judging panel.

“Buildings like Armstrong Richardson offices can hold their own against anything else in the world, combining original thought and detailing with high quality construction and usability.”

The judging panel for the Renaissance Awards is made up of property professionals, many of them chartered surveyors.

They consider all aspects of the buildings and projects entered, from design and planning, to construction and the look and feel of the finished product.  

Each of the eight categories have their own criteria so, for instance, within the Sustainability category building materials and ongoing environmental factors are taken into account. 

Winners from four of the Renaissance Awards categories automatically go through to the international RICS Awards which will be held this October in London.

Last year’s North East Project of the Year, the Rivergreen Centre, at Aykley Heads, in Durham, took the Sustainability Award in the face of stiff competition from around the world. 

The full list of North East regional winners for the RICS Renaissance Awards 2008 is as follows: 

Renaissance Awards Winners 

The Renaissance Awards were supported by several sponsoring organisations, including:

• the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
• leading recruitment consultants Nigel Wright
• one of the UK’s largest law firms Ward Hadaway
• international construction company Carillion plc,
• Northumbria University, which offers a wide range of construction-based courses
• leading property sector magazine Regeneration & Renewal
• audio visual specialists the R&B Group
• water proofing solutions company Sarnafil
• JK Property Consultants LLP
• Vantis, the AIM-listed tax and business advisory group.

David Scurr, RBS Director Property Finance, said:

“Once again, the quality of the schemes entered has been a testament to the many successful regional developers and their professional advisors.

"As a chartered surveyor myself, it is a pleasure to celebrate the region’s successes.”