National Lottery Best Heritage Project for Austin-Smith:Lord’s Calman Cancer Support Centre

Calman Cancer Support Centre has been presented with the 2013 National Lottery Award for Best Heritage Project. The Centre received more public votes than its six fellow finalists, including world famous landmarks the Cutty Sark and the Giant’s Causeway.

The building (formerly Gartnavel Royal Hospital Chapel) has been carefully conserved by the Austin-Smith:Lord team in Glasgow and adapted into a flagship therapy centre for the provision of free counselling and complementary therapies for cancer outpatients.

Actor Ricky Tomlinson surprised staff, patients and volunteers to present the award. Ricky said: “Looking at this building today, it’s difficult to imagine that it was close to ruin a few years ago. It’s fantastic that the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust has restored it and turned it into a sanctuary where cancer patients can take time to relax, away from the pressures of their daily lives. This heritage project is not only about preserving the past but also helping people now and looking to the future.

“More than one in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime which is why the work of charities such as Cancer Support Scotland is so important. Gartnavel Chapel – Cancer Support Centre is a brilliant success story and I am delighted it has been recognised as the nation’s favourite heritage project in the National Lottery Awards. National Lottery players should be proud that their money is supporting incredible projects like this.”

Colin Graham, Chief Executive of Cancer Support Scotland said “We are delighted our building has won this National Lottery Award for heritage. It just goes to show what can be done to turn a derelict building into the perfect home for Cancer Support Scotland.”

Mr Graham went on to say “This award means so much to so many people. However, credit must go to Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and Austin-Smith:Lord for their expertise in turning this building into a beautiful cancer centre for patients, families and carers to attend.”

As architects leading the conservation and transformation of the Gartnavel Royal Chapel for GBPT to form the Calman Cancer Centre, Austin-Smith:Lord LLP have been delighted to be associated with the project which has been such a success thanks to the efforts of a considerable number of people over the last seven years or so.

Head of Conservation at Austin-Smith:Lord, David Millar, said, ‘We started work on the options appraisal in 2006 with GBPT and it is so rewarding to now see the planning and designing coming to fruition in such a delightful and enjoyable building result. A derelict building now gives such hope, support and inspiration for a new generation. Well done to all the individuals who had a hand in this success story.”