Issue 35 autumn 2022 - Flipbook - Page 24
West Midlands - The Exchange at The University of
Birmingham nominated by MGAC | RLF
The Exchange, originally constructed in 1933 as the new
headquarters for the Municipal Bank, is a historical building that's essential to the city landscape. After lying vacant
for 20 years, this unique building was purchased in 2017
by the University and was saved through this refurbishment, securing an important piece of Birmingham’s
Heritage.
This new City hub now plays a key role in connecting the
University to the public, private, and third sectors. The
refurbished Grade II building now provides a state-of-theart facility for the University to showcase research and
technology, and provides a new venue for conferences and
events
Judges’ comments - This project was chosen because of the
very impressive refurbishment of a neglected high-profile building in the centre of Birmingham. It has been delivered to a very
high standard creating a 'wow' factor.
Above, Sir William Henry Bragg Building nominated
by ADP Architects Ltd
Yorkshire & Humber - Sir William Henry Bragg
Building nominated by ADP Architects Ltd
The Sir William Henry Bragg building provides a new
world class gateway to physical sciences through the reuse
and repurposing of a Grade II listed Old Mining building.
This ensured the validity and viability of one of the University’s key assets and made the centre piece of a new
entrance to the University. The new building creates a
community heart space and assists with wayfinding and
movement to the other physical sciences and engineering
schools on multiple levels. Our design resulted in several
brave interventions to the listed building to ensure the
development was legible and balanced.
Judges’ comments - This project highlighted a strong
collaborative approach to a challenging stakeholder environment.
It was achieved by embracing the existing features of the building
and complementing it with sustainable technologies & features
throughout. The outcome was a BREEAM rated excellent
world class teaching facility.
Further information is available at: RICS Awards UK
www.rics.org/uk/training-events/rics-awards/uk-awards/
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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