2018 Project of the Year: RICS Awards, East Midlands

Building Conservation

Sponsored by Nottingham Trent University

Delapre Abbey – Northampton

Delapre Abbey is a Grade II redundant country house with 12th Century Convent origins. The redevelopment of substantial parts of the Abbey and outbuildings has bought many parts into public use for events and visitor space.

The judges were impressed with the project teams -  Currie & Brown, Purcell, Robert Woodhead Ltd and Northampton Borough Council - consideration for the various uses and end users to help with the investment in the site’s heritage. The particular attention into the history of the property is of an exacting standard that both reflects the 1860’s key date but also rejuvenates the site and secures the future of Delapre Abbey.

Commercial

One Angel Square, Northampton

The once in a lifetime ‘spend to save’ project, brings Northamptonshire County Council into one £40m highly efficient headquarters from 40 other properties. The building is set over five storeys with a highly innovative mixed mode cooling system around exceptional amenity space.

Judges praised Gleeds, BDP, Galliford Try and Northampton City Council for delivering a significant regeneration project in the historical quarter of the town. Impressed with the glazed façade, dominated by copper fins and inspired by leather shoe cutting lines, it is an excellent BREEAM two form building. The design creates an abundance of natural light to open plan office space, meeting and touchdown areas and with over 2,000 staff relocating into this central facility from twelve offices creates connectivity, a collaborative space, a sense of wellbeing as well as reducing overheads.

Design through Innovation

Sponsored by Sika

STEM Building, Loughborough University

The new STEMLab building at Loughborough University is a state of the art Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics facility. Comprising of 3,500m2 of modern energy efficient teaching areas. The RICS judges were impressed by the design and flexibility of the space provided along with recognising the complex nature of laboratory spaces.

Judges felt Faithful+Gould, CPMG Architects and Henry Brothers Midlands Ltd, had carefully considered the construction of the building and sought to achieve value for money through clever earth modelling on site to provide alternative uses on campus, whilst reducing delivery costs. The £17m facility achieved a BREEAM excellent rating and is clearly providing leading research and teaching facilities on campus

Infrastructure

The Mill Lane & Gateway Public Realm, Leicester

The Mill Lane & The Gateway Public Realm scheme created an attractive communal space along a former public highway through the centre of De Montfort University’s main campus in Leicester. Faithful+Gould, AECOM, Danahar & Walsh have pedestrianised the area of Mill Lane, which runs from the city centre end of the campus down to the riverside, and transformed it in an attractive, usable and vibrant space with strips of bright green, punctuated by plant beds and budding trees forming striking spacious grounds.

Regeneration

Sponsored by CS2 Chartered Surveyors

Melton Cattle Market, Melton Mowbray

Melton Cattle Market facilities had become outdated; their age meant they were in a poor condition and needed investment to secure the site’s future. With studies revealing the market had enormous economic value to the town, Pick Everard, Morgan Sindall and Melton Borough Council looked to complete phase one of the scheme to safeguard the market’s key role in the local economy for the next 20 years.

Judges were impressed with the passion of all those involved and how crucial an impact phase one will have on the future of the market town. Following the successful regeneration of this site, there are now plans in place to further develop the site and boost the local economy.

Tourism & Leisure

ONE NK, Lincolnshire

North Kesteven District Council saw an opportunity to refresh and revitalise NK Sports Centre in the Lincoln-fringe suburb of North Hykeham. The judges praised the £3.7m project as representing an example of successfully regenerating an outdated leisure centre to provide high quality, modern facilities which consider the needs of all users. With innovative design, engagement with suppliers and local people, together with a strong sense of social responsibility and local identity the judges felt Faithful+Gould, Archial Norr and Lindum Group delivered a project that maximised value for money while delivering a leisure centre which is now a community hub.