Three aim to build on success
THREE landmark Cardiff buildings are in the running for a top UK award.
The trio are among six projects that have all already won their categories in the Rics Wales award, one of the highest awards for excellence in the field.
Now they are being entered into the Rics UK awards and each has a chance to win in their respective categories.
The Rics Awards Grand Final will take place in London on November 2.
The Cardiff buildings going forward include Cornerstone in Charles Street, which won the Wales building conservation category.
Rics Wales said: “Cornerstone is the restoration and transformation of the abandoned, former Ebenezer Chapel in Cardiff into a multi-use hub which has provided a much-needed stimulus for Charles Street in the heart of the city. The philosophy of the project was to create a new community facility using as much of the original chapel materials as possible, giving it back to the people of Cardiff while saving a prominent historic building from decay.”
Meanwhile, One Central Square – part of the massive redevelopment in front of Cardiff Central Railway Station – was victorious in Wales’ commercial building category.
Described as an “outstanding landmark development”, the building provides 135,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in the heart of Cardiff city centre’s redevelopment zone.
Rics Wales said: “Rio Architect’s inspiring design, developed by Rightacres, sets a quality benchmark for the one million sq ft regenerative development of this neglected city area.
“Completed in March 2016 and fully let within six months, the facility raises the bar for office design in Wales and has captured the imagination of the city.”
And the third of the Welsh capital’s buildings to make it through to the UK final was Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre (Cubric), on Maindy Road, which scooped the design through innovation category as well as Wales’ project of the year award.
Rics Wales said: “Cubric opened in spring 2016. Housing a combination of neuroimaging equipment unique within Europe, Cubric continues to further its world-leading research which has already established Cardiff University as one of the UK’s top three universities for psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience.
“The new building has exemplary levels of safety from magnetic fields and for participants and patients, is a highly sustainable design achieving BREEAM Excellent ranking and in the short time since opening has been highly successful.”
The three other buildings representing Wales at the UK final are: HM Prison Berwyn, Wrexham; Urban Village, Swansea; and Harlech Castle.