Category: News

The recently completed Loudoun Square regeneration project in Cardiff has received the Development of the Year (Large Scheme) Award at the prestigious UK Housing Awards, which were held last night in London.

The awards, which were established in 1997, recognise excellence throughout the UK within the social housing sector.

Loudoun Square has been regenerated to create new modern facilities to serve the local community and in addition to affordable homes and apartments it also includes a new health centre, shops and community facilities.

Sustainability was of paramount importance for the project, with the new community centre and shops designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’. The health centre is also the first BREEAM Excellent Health Centre in Wales and was also awarded a Welsh BREEAM Health Care Award.

The 61 new affordable homes and apartments are designed to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes – Level 4 and Level 5. To achieve these stringent environmental targets, the designs incorporate innovative strategies such as harvesting of rain water, Bio Mass fuelled heating and extensive use of ‘A’ rated insulation materials.

Liverpool Echo recently announced FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) has been nominated fourth best movie theatre around the world.

The bold landmark designed by Austin-Smith:Lord is one of Liverpool’s first purpose-built arts centre’s for more than 60 years. Based on Wood Street in the Ropewalks area, the cinema and art hub has been a cornerstone within the city for showcasing film, art, exhibitions and special events since completion in 2003. It was named fourth best ‘movie theatre’ in the world in a new poll published by ‘Men’s Journal’ magazine.

The magazine added: “FACT is the kind of place that begs a moviegoer to linger.”

“There’s no genre or type of media that’s off-limits to its programmers – an experimental animated film in the morning might be followed up with a screening of a studio tent-pole in the evening.”

FACT celebrates its 11^th year anniversary later on this year.

Liverpool Central Library won two awards on 17 April 2014 at the Northwest Regional RIBA Awards.

The event was attended by Partner; Maggie Mullan, Senior Architect; Philip Morton, Architectural Assistant; Francesca Fernandes and Marketing Coordinator; Rhema Williams.

Completed in 2013, a world class, unique and prestigious library within the heart of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site. The design has provided a new cultural destination, a thrilling visitor experience and a Library and archive restored with historic asset for Liverpool’s most valuable collections.

Liverpool Central Library was among 12 buildings in the North West shortlisted for RIBA Regional 2014 Awards, from a total of 33 buildings entered in the region.

Liverpool Central Library won the Regional Award and the Award for Best Conservation Project.

Two of Austin-Smith:Lord’s projects have been shortlisted in the 2014 Scottish Design Awards.

Burns Wynd, our recently completed housing development in Maybole, Ayrshire, has been shortlisted in the Affordable Housing category. Jim Whiston, Director of client Ayrshire Housing said “We and all our tenants are delighted with this the latest project for us from A-S:L. Working within a tight budget, all the requirements of our brief have been met.”

Our regeneration of the Bridgegate area in Irvine has been shortlisted in the Public Realm/Landscaping category. James Ledgerwood of Irvine Bay, who was project manager for the Bridgegate project, said:

“This is without question one of the most exciting and dynamic town centre improvement projects in Scotland in recent years and the recognition of this by this short-listing at such prestigious awards is well deserved. This reflects the dedication by ASL, the overall delivery team and all partners to provide a design and construction that contributes to the future prosperity of Irvine.”

Winners will be announced at the awards dinner this June.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s redevelopment of Bridgegate in Irvine, Ayrshire, has been shortlisted in the 2014 RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence.

Over the last 18 months the heart of the former New Town has been completely transformed through a series of public realm and streetscape improvements, the restoration of an A-listed former church into a dynamic new commercial opportunity and the redevelopment of a main public office and retail property. The works were fully completed in November 2013 and provide a high quality public and commercial environment which will stimulate footfall and associated economic growth and new jobs to the town.

James Ledgerwood of Irvine Bay, who was project manager for the works, said:

“This is without question one of the most exciting and dynamic town centre improvement projects in recent years and its recognition at a UK level is well deserved. This reflects the dedication by ASL, the overall delivery team and all partners to provide a design and construction that contributes to the future prosperity of Irvine.”

We look forward to the announcement of the winning project in June.

Carmelite Monastery is among 12 buildings in the North West that have been shortlisted for RIBA Regional (Royal Institute of British Architects) Awards in 2014, from a total of 33 buildings entered in the region.

Andrew Ruffler, Regional Director of RIBA North West, welcomed the news:

“Once again the North West region has produced an incredibly strong and varied shortlist of buildings and practices. The regional jury had an extremely difficult task this year, particularly as the North West had the highest amount of projects of value £20m+ outside of London, so it is encouraging that regional practices and smaller schemes have also been recognised by the jury.”

All shortlisted buildings will be assessed by a regional jury with the winners of an RIBA Regional Award announced on the evening of Thursday 17 April from 7pm at ‘OH ME OH MY’ in Liverpool. Regional winners will also be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced at a London event in June.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings later in the year.

Liverpool Central Library is among 12 buildings in the North West that have been shortlisted for RIBA Regional (Royal Institute of British Architects) Awards in 2014, from a total of 33 buildings entered in the region.

Andrew Ruffler, Regional Director of RIBA North West, welcomed the news:

“Once again the North West region has produced an incredibly strong and varied shortlist of buildings and practices. The regional jury had an extremely difficult task this year, particularly as the North West had the highest amount of projects of value £20m+ outside of London, so it is encouraging that regional practices and smaller schemes have also been recognised by the jury.”

All shortlisted buildings will be assessed by a regional jury with the winners of an RIBA Regional Award announced on the evening of Thursday 17 April from 7pm at ‘OH ME OH MY’ in Liverpool. Regional winners will also be considered for a highly-coveted RIBA National Award in recognition of their architectural excellence, which will be announced at a London event in June.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings later in the year.

On Friday 28^th February two of Austin-Smith:Lord’s recently completed conservation projects will each receive a visit from The Prince of Wales.

His Royal Highness will be visiting the Grade I Listed Llanelly House in Carmarthenshire in the morning, where he will tour the building and meet the restoration team including Austin-Smith:Lord’s Project Director and Conservation Architect, Sophie Teague Davies. The early 18^th Century Georgian House has recently been transformed from a derelict building into a Genealogy Centre and since opening has received rave visitor reviews.

During the afternoon His Royal Highness will visit the newly named Grade II* Listed Redhouse in Merthyr Tydfil to celebrate the restoration of what was originally the Old Town Hall. The Prince of Wales will receive a guided tour of the building from Austin-Smith:Lord’s Project Architect, Ashley Davies. Redhouse, which is due to open to the public on St David’s Day, has been transformed into a landmark building which will host a variety of arts offerings including visual and performing arts and film.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s latest development for Ayrshire Housing has been officially opened by Helen Moonie, the Provost of South Ayrshire.

The 13 properties at Burns Wynd, Maybole, are staggered to reflect their hillside topography opening out views toward the Southern Uplands. They consist of nine two-bedroom and four three-bedroom homes, each designed to accommodate a range of needs through features such as downstairs bathrooms.

Speaking at the launch Helen Moonie said: “I’m delighted with this the latest partnership between the Council, the Scottish Government and Ayrshire Housing. The houses have been carefully designed to meet the needs of the tenants and with energy efficiency in mind. The architects Austin-Smith:Lord and the builder Ashleigh (Scotland) have done an excellent job”.

Jim Whiston, Ayrshire Housing’s Director said “We’ve been a regular client of A-S:L for over 10 years. At Burns Wynd, they have once again created a site specific design which belies the tight cost limits that we work to. Best of all though, the tenants are delighted with their new homes”.

Austin-Smith:Lord has been appointed by Bristol City Council and Bristol Building Preservation Trust to undertake the Concept and Developed Design (leading to an HLF Stage II bid submission) for the Grade II* Listed Lower Lodge Gatehouse in Bristol.

The historic building, which is currently covered in a protective shroud, was originally constructed in 1805 in the Gothic Revival style.  It used to be the main gateway to the Grade I Listed Ashton Court Mansion, however it is now un-used, derelict and on the Buildings at Risk Register. Once restored, it will become a Community provision accommodating the Public and the adjacent Ashton Park School.