Scottish Design Award for Helensburgh Town Centre

Helensburgh’s revitalised town centre public realm, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord, has won a Scottish Design Award.

The bold regeneration project, which forms part of Argyll and Bute Council’s CHORD regeneration initiative, was created to improve economic activity and enhance the visitor experience in the town by creating attractive, usable and flexible public space which can also upport community events, festivals and markets.

Completed in summer 2015, the project includes an innovative ‘Outdoor Museum’ in Colquhoun Square, the civic heart of the town, as well as the redevelopment of all of the principal surrounding streets and the West Bay Esplanade.

The award is in the Public Realm/Landscaping category of the Scottish Design Awards which rewards top architecture firms and design agencies for their contribution to the country’s historic and contemporary design culture.

The project has been short-listed for six awards to date, including the prestigious RIAS/RIBA Awards 2016, which will be announced in June. It was also recognised by short-listings in the FX International Design Awards, the Civic Trust Awards, the RICS Awards and the Scottish Property Awards.

Graham Ross, Austin-Smith:Lord Partner, says: “It is great for this project to receive such an accolade. The vast array of people involved in making this project a success should take immense satisfaction that it has received national recognition. Community consultation and collaboration was vital in taking project forward. So this Award recognises both the vision of Argyll and Bute Council’s CHORD regeneration project as well as the hopes and ideas of local people to transform their town for the better.”

Councillor Ellen Morton, Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Infrastructure, said: “This is wonderful news. We are absolutely delighted that this major improvement project continues to gain national recognition.

“Now we have an attractive, usable and flexible public space for general enjoyment and to support community events, festivals and markets.

“Awards like this are a real vote of confidence in the council’s regeneration work.”

The full project team includes WAVEparticle, Robinson Low Francis, O’Connor Sutton Cronin and Transport Planning Ltd. The main contractor was Maclay.