I was delighted to be the sustainability advisor for the RIBA Yorkshire Awards 2018. Particularly as this year’s awards introduced a renewed focus on sustainability – something that is fundamental to the way we practice.
It gave me a valuable insight into the process behind the awards and showed how dedicated the judging team are to delivering a fair process that evaluates every project on its individual merit.
I was really pleased that Albert Works in Sheffield was amongst the winners and got the recognition the project deserves.
Now home to digital agency Jaywing, four empty warehouses on Matilda Street were brought back to life by Cartwright Pickard Architects to create a clean and calm working space.
It was also very important that the National College for High Speed Rail by Bond Bryan Architects, which is architecturally a very different building from Albert Works, also be recognised.
Designing something for this kind of brief is a challenge Bond Bryan have risen to well, especially in the current economic context of reduced investment in high-quality places for further, rather than higher, education.
They have delivered a project that meets high energy performance with spaces that will offer long-term flexibility for the college. The project was also awarded the sustainability award.
The awards ceremony in York was a highly enjoyable evening. It was great to see colleagues and friends from both the Yorkshire and North East regions and there was a celebratory feel to the night.