Liverpool Central Library has been crowned Project of the Year in a prestigious buildings 'oscars'.
Fifty-six North West property schemes battled it out for top honours last night at the RICS North West Awards 2014.
The event also saw the library named as the scheme with the most community benefit.
Meanwhile, Kensington Neighbourhood Health Centre was judged best regeneration scheme.
The annual contest aims to reward inspirational initiatives in the land, property and construction sectors. The event was hosted by architect George Clarke, presenter of Channel 4’s Restoration Man.
Kensington Neighbourhood Health Centre, Liverpool
The title of Project of the Year is presented to the scheme felt by the judges to represent the most outstanding example of the region’s property expertise. Liverpool Central Library triumphed over what the 17-strong panel of judges said was an exceptionally strong field of entries.
The judges felt Liverpool Central Library more than satisfied the criteria of a building designed to serve the community. The newly redeveloped Central Library provides for all ages and backgrounds within a building of scale, confidence, variety and daring that both re-uses listed structures, as well as providing new perspectives on the city with the creation of a new terrace.
The Library, which was first opened in 1860, includes a new Children’s Library, initiatives to widen community access to the Internet, the ‘City of Readers’ Project, a database for family history research, and projects working with asylum seekers. Since reopening to the public in May 2013, Liverpool Central Library has welcomed over 400,000 visitors, more than double the amount of users in the same period prior to the redevelopment.
Commenting on the Project of the year, Jane Lathwood, Chair of the Awards judging panel and Associate, GVA, said: “Liverpool Central Library is a more than deserving winner of the RICS Awards Project of the Year 2014. It absolutely embodies the values that the judges look for in a development – it serves its users in a way that few other projects could and since opening, has proven itself at the heart of the community.
“The redevelopment of Liverpool Central Library is an object lesson to others on the right way to restore and refresh listed buildings, while making them fit for the future. The incredible reception it has been given by the people of Liverpool shows how valued it is. Since opening, Liverpool Central Library has become one of the city’s top attractions. The redevelopment should see it remain a beacon of knowledge and learning for the next 150 years.”
List of winners
· Building Conservation: Manchester Town Hall, Manchester
· Commercial Property: Parcelford Hub, Chorley
· Community Benefit: Liverpool Central Library, Liverpool
· Design Through Innovation: Number One Riverside, Rochdale
· Infrastructure: Manchester Metrolink Phase 3A, Manchester
· Regeneration: Kensington Neighbourhood Health Centre, Liverpool
· Residential Property: Broom Lane, Levenshulme
· Tourism & Leisure: Liverpool Central Library, Liverpool
Winners in four of the categories (Building Conservation, Community Benefit, Design & Innovation and Regeneration) will now automatically be entered into the national RICS Awards, where they will compete against other leading projects from across the UK later this year.
