Associated Architects has been shortlisted in the prestigious, national AJ100 awards, which recognises the very best UK architects and projects. The practice, which has offices in Birmingham, Leeds and Oxford, has reached the final shortlist in both the Practice of the Year and Building of the Year categories, whilst the University of Wolverhampton has been being shortlisted for Client of the Year, for their work with the practice on the Springfield development in Wolverhampton.
These national award shortlistings come on the back of 11 nominations in the Regional 2021 Constructing Excellence Awards, which has seen 7 of the practice’s projects reach the finals in 5 categories.
It further cements a highly successful 2021 so far for the practice, which has picked up two new clients at the Universities of Southampton and Winchester and expanded its portfolio of London projects.
In Birmingham, the practice has recently completed the Engineering Building at the University of Birmingham and the refurbishment of Platform 21 (the former Charters Building at 102 New Street); whilst also beginning work on the city’s largest office retrofit at 10 Brindleyplace.
Richard Perry, Director of Associated Architects said:
“It is an honour for Associated Architects and our client to be shortlisted for three AJ100 awards in one year. This is the result of an awful lot of hard work, dedication and a truly collaborative approach with our clients and wider teams. We would also like to take this opportunity to offer our congratulations to the other shortlisted practices and look forward to the results in September.”
The £26 million School of Architecture and the Built Environment (SoABE), located on the site of a Grade II listed former brewery, is the project which sits amongst an international field of finalists for Build of the Year
The Springfield Brewery site had been in steady decline, becoming a highly visible symbol of neglect, blighted by contamination, challenging ground conditions, failed attempts at residential conversion, several fires and deemed another undevelopable, inner city brownfield site. The University saw an opportunity to manifest their vision of creating Europe’s largest specialist construction and built environment campus, within a unique, historical environment.
SoABE is set to have a significant impact on the university community, providing a live case-study for the school’s students, demonstrating best practice in bringing together contemporary and historic architecture. It will also act as a catalyst for economic and social regeneration in not just the immediate area but the city as a whole.
The £120 million Springfield Campus is now home to 3 projects by Associated Architects. SoABE sits adjacent to the National Brownfield Institute (currently under construction) and planning consent has just been achieved for a major extension to the Thomas Telford UTC.
Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to see that Associated Architects has been recognised for their unique design work on the School of Architecture and Built Environment which has been shortlisted for this prestigious award.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, the sympathetic treatment in design, taking into account the old and the new, was crucial for this flagship building which takes pride of place on our £120 million brownfield regeneration project which sits right at the heart of the Black Country.
“Springfield Brewery was, and is now again, an iconic landmark and the architectural design has played a really important part in bringing the past together with the present to create something incredible for the future.”
