Category: News

Bridgegate Public Realm has been awarded a BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) National Landscape Award. Contractor Land Engineering picked up the award in the ‘Hard Landscaping Construction’ category.

Graham Ross (Partner at Austin-Smith:Lord and Project Director for Bridgegate Public Realm) said “Winning a BALI Award is a terrific achievement. It is recognition of Land Engineering’s accomplished execution of the works, and by association, acknowledgement of the quality of the design by Austin-Smith:Lord and our design team colleagues.

“We’ve been delighted to receive positive feedback since the streetscape and public artworks were unveiled in late 2013. The public realm works, in combination with the refurbishment of Bridgegate House and conservation works to the listed Trinity Church, have transformed a key location in Irvine. The Bridgegate project is one of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council’s flagship projects in redefining and enhancing Irvine Town Centre and we’re delighted to have been involved in such a successful project.”

The Scottish Government have published a research paper into ‘Value of Design in the Built Environment’. The research was conducted by a team led by Doug Wheeler (Douglas Wheeler Associates) supported by Graham Ross (Austin-Smith:Lord) and Dr Mark Robertson (Ryden).

Commissioned by the Scottish Government Building Standards Division on behalf of the Planning and Architecture Division, the aim of the paper is to provide an analysis of how design ‘value’ is handled in the development process in Scotland. The publication of this research paper follows on from the Scottish Government’s Creating Places policy statement on architecture and placemaking.

You can view the research paper here: Value of Design in the Built Environment

This publication follows on from previous research Douglas Wheeler Associates and Austin-Smith:Lord have conducted for the Scottish Government, including Barriers to Delivering Mixed Use Development.

Hot on the heels of the Practice’s recent theatre feasibility study appointment in Bolton, the Cardiff Studio has been selected, through competitive tender, to undertake a feasibility study at Theatr Hafren in Newtown, Mid Wales.

Appointed by Neath Port Talbot College Group and Theatr Hafren, we will be undertaking a detailed feasibility study which will look at introducing a new suite of arts facilities including a high quality studio, a second dance studio and music recording and rehearsal suite. We have also been tasked with rationalising some of the other internal spaces, including the front of house, and improving building accessibility and identity.

Our team, led by Rob Firman, will be working collaboratively with Stephen Bashford from Hosta Ltd., who has been commissioned to undertake a demand appraisal and outline business case. We have worked with Stephen on a number of projects including Aberystwyth University Old College, Lower Lodge Gatehouse and Blackpool Visitor Heritage attraction. The client felt that our existing collaborative relationship and relaxed yet confident approach is a great strength in our team, and will bring definite advantages to the project.

The official opening and consecration of the Chapel at Maryton Grange Carmelite Monastery, took place on Sunday 13^th July in Allerton, Liverpool.

Philip Morton from Austin-Smith:Lord had the honour of presenting the key to Archbishop Malcolm McMahon – who opened the chapel doors to let in the congregation.

The ceremony was attended by many religious dignitaries and the families & friends of the community of Carmelite Sisters. During the ceremony the Archbishop blessed the congregation and anointed the Chapel walls, altar and ambo. Religious relics were also placed in a chamber at the base of the altar.  After the ceremony the sisters opened the doors to the remainder of the monastery and let members of the public have a rare glimpse of the communal spaces and extensive gardens, as traditionally, these areas are kept private.

Following completion to time and budget in December 2013, the new Cardiff School of Art and Design has so far been partially occupied whilst students completed their academic year.

Dean of the School, Gaynor Kavanagh, addressed an invited audience of stakeholders, students and guests in a celebration of this important new phase in its 149 year history.  The celebration coincided with the Summer Show, with the new building hosting Textiles, Architectural Technology and Graphic Design exhibitions of final year work.

Whilst not yet in full use, the building has already met with critical acclaim and has made a tangible impact on prospective new student visitors at a series of open days held over the past few months.

The University has confirmed a staggering 33% rise in applications which is ahead of any expectation and UK average, and is an immediate reward for the investment undertaken.

The Dean commented that the building, which she described as being warm, full of light and welcoming, had undoubtedly played a key role in this achievement.  She also commented that the building was proof of the positive impact that good design has on occupants and that you could actually sense people walking taller and being physically lifted.  Crucially she felt that the new building shifted the perception of the student from being in a School to a University and that this would also drive creativity, quality and achievement.

We are delighted to announce that our development at Burns Wynd, Maybole, has been presented with the 2014 Scottish Design Award for Affordable Housing ahead of stiff competition.

Details of the development can be found here: https://www.austinsmithlord.com/projects/burns-wynd-maybole/

Our recently completed Bridgegate Public Realm was also shortlisted for an award: https://www.austinsmithlord.com/projects/bridgegate-public-realm/

Jim Whiston, Ayrshire Housing’s Director said “We and our tenants are delighted with this award! Burns Wynd is the latest in a series of excellent projects designed for us by Austin-Smith:Lord over the last 12 years.”

Burns Wynd has also been shortlisted for a Saltire Housing Design Award and a Scottish Home Award.

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has granted Blackpool Council with a £1.24m funding boost towards the development of a museum in the resort’s grade II*-listed Winter Gardens.

Austin-Smith:Lord was amongst the team that supported Blackpool Council with the HLF application by producing a fantastic feasibility study gaining the stage 1 funding.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Leader of Blackpool Council, said:

“I am absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has chosen to support this exciting project. We know that they had many applications to consider and I am over the moon that they saw the potential in our proposal.”

This project aims to create a brand new museum telling ‘The Blackpool Story’.

There will now be a development phase of 18 months at the end of which Blackpool Council will submit a second-round application to the HLF for the Delivery Phase of the project.

The Grade I Listed Llanelly House has been awarded the prestigious RICS Wales Project of the Year award and the RICS Wales Building Conservation Award at a ceremony that took place in Cardiff on Thursday 15^th May.

Along with Austin-Smith:Lord’s Liverpool Central Library, that also won both Project of the Year and Building Conservation at the RICS North West Awards that took place early this month, Llanelly House will be entered into the RICS National Awards which will be held  in London later in the year.

In 2010 Austin-Smith:Lord was commissioned by Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust to carry out the conservation and restoration of Llanelly House in Llanelli which opened to the public in 2013. The challenging project has restored the building, which is a rare example of an early Georgian Town House, to its 18th Century glory and turned it into a major visitor attraction.

The concept of the project has been to create a National Centre for Genealogy where visitors can uncover their own ancestral connections via dedicated, specialist archived resources. Llanelly House also includes a cafe, shop and corporate and community spaces.

Ranked on Trip Advisor as one of the 10 top attractions in Carmarthen, Llanelly House has been a hit with both the locals and visitors throughout Wales and the UK.

Liverpool’s magnificent Central Library won two awards at the 2014 RICS Awards, held in Manchester on 8^th May.

The Austin-Smith:Lord Building was entered into four out of eight categories, winning awards for ‘Community Benefit’ and ‘Travel and Tourism’.

Out of a total of 56 entries, a panel of 17 judges selected and praised the Project of the Year; declaring the Central Library scheme more than satisfied the criteria of a building designed to serve the community.

Jane Lathwood, chair of the awards judging panel, said:

“It absolutely embodies the values that the judges look for in a development. It serves its users in a way that few other projects could, and since opening has proven itself at the heart of the community. The redevelopment of Liverpool Central Library is an object lesson to others on the right way to restore and refresh listed buildings, while making them fit for the future. The incredible reception it has been given by the people of Liverpool shows how valued it is. The redevelopment should see it remain a beacon of knowledge and learning for the next 150 years.”

The Library will now be entered into the National RICS Awards along with the winners of the Building Conservation, Design & Innovation and Regeneration categories which is to be held later on this year.

Austin-Smith:Lord has yet again been successful in having an outstanding project shortlisted in the Northwest RICS Awards (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

The Phenomenal Liverpool Central Library has been shortlisted in four categories;- Building Conservation, Commercial, Community Benefit and Tourism and Leisure.

The winners are to be announced on 8^th May 2014 at the annual RICS Awards Ceremony, held in Manchester.