Innovative Conservatoire hailed as ‘world class’ in RICS design accolades
ANEW Birmingham landmark once likened to a cheese grater has been hailed as a “world-class facility with national and international appeal”.
The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, which opened last year, has been crowned West Midlands project of the year by industry body RICS at its 2018 awards. It will now go head to head with other regional projects at RICS’ national awards which celebrate the best initiatives in the land, property and construction sectors.
The conservatoire in Jennens Road, Eastside, run by Birmingham City University, replaces its former home in Paradise Circus which has been demolished as part of a £700 million redevelopment.
But the designs split opinion when they were revealed in 2014, with one city councillor likening it to a cheese grater and another saying it reminded him of an Oxo cube. It was the first purpose- built music college to be developed in the UK since 1987 and principal Julian Lloyd Webber said it would be “the last one of its kind” when it opened last September.
RICS praised it for an innovative approach to a multi-purpose building which contains around 100 practice rooms, a performance theatre and a jazz space. The conservatoire won the ‘design
through innova- tion’ award and was then chosen from the other category winners to be overall project of the year.
Judging panel chairman Gurdip Chamba said: “A highly complicated building, it involved complex structural, architectural and services solutions including modern audio visual, highly specified acoustic requirements and ‘box within a box’ designed areas to isolate rooms from the main building structure.
“The result is a world-class facility with national and international appeal which will attract further investment to the city.”
Two other Birmingham buildings were recognised at the awards.
TouchBase Pears, the new base for charity Scope, in Selly Oak, took the community benefit award, with judges commending it for providing
a space for everyone.
Meanwhile, the National College for High Speed Rail won the regeneration title.
Judges praised it for significantly regenerating the canalside space next to Aston University and making a valuable impact across the region by supplying the next generation of rail engineers.
Mr Chamba added: “These projects are testament to the successful collaboration of the talented teams behind them.
“Together, their complimentary skills and exceptional vision has not only created some remarkable built schemes, which the West Midlands can be immensely proud of, but they are also having a profoundly positive impact on their local communities.”
All category winners will go forward to the national RICS Awards in London on November 2.