Four Bovis Lend Lease UK projects receive national awards for design and architecture

BBC Scotland HQ at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, Manchester Civil Justice Centre, Adelaide Wharf, London and the Royal Festival Hall are all winners of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National Awards announced on Friday 27th June. From a total of 16 winners across the country, a shortlist of six will be drawn up to contest the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize which recognizes the building which has made the greatest contribution to British architecture in the last year.

Bovis Lend Lease UK completed the design and build of Pacific Quay in August 2006. The building was described by the judging panel as “having seamlessly resolved technical, production, office-based and social functions within a singularly awe-inspiring building". The judges said that the question of how to make something that is purely functional into something socially and sculpturally successful had been addressed with great skill. Architects for Pacific Quay were David Chipperfield Architects - winner of the 2007 Stirling Prize for the Museum of Modern Literature at Marbach am Neckar, Germany. In 2007 Bovis Lend Lease completed the design and build of architect Denton Corker Marshall’s Manchester Civil Justice Centre, the largest court building to be built in the UK since the Royal Courts of Justice. The judges felt that this “pioneering new building separates civil and criminal justice systems, creating a new civic building that is open and accessible. The building is an elegant and beautifully executed response to a complex brief that has made a significant contribution to the regeneration this part of Manchester. “The architectural expression and resolution of the environmental design sets this building apart. Environmental sustainability has been integrated into the design from the start; natural ventilation to all areas and a mixed-mode ventilation system serving the court rooms contributes to the BREEAM rating of 'Excellent'. “ The Allford Hall Monaghan Morris designed Adelaide Wharf was completed by BLFB, a JV between Bovis Lend Lease and First Base in 2007. The sizable housing scheme rethought a previous permission to give more open space at the centre of the project whilst preserving the number of units. For the judges, “the main joy is the large semi private central court space with visibility from the road. Equally interesting is the prefabricated timber elevations with contrasting colourful balconies. There are many other small touches such as the bench level reception window and views of the canal from the halls.” The Royal Festival Hall refurbishment was project managed by Lend Lease Projects restoring the venue to its original elegance and vitality in 2007. The judges said, “Rick Mather Architects’ masterplan for the South Bank identified the potential for an office building between the hall and the railway line, which was the masterstroke at the root of the transformation. By moving all the administrative offices into this new office building, Allies and Morrison were able to liberate many of the internal spaces previously used as offices. “They have restored the legibility and essence of the original architecture and re-established the Festival Hall as a major international venue.” Contenders for the Stirling will be disclosed on July 17. The winners of the £20,000 prize will be announced in Liverpool on October 11.