Monday, 21 May 2018

RIBA regional wins cite M&E innovation

© Jack Hobhouse

Three Skelly & Couch projects have won 2018 RIBA Regional Awards with judges highlighting the quality and innovation of building services and environmental engineering.

City of London Freemen’s School Swimming Pool, Ashstead, by Hawkins\Brown is one of only five projects to win RIBA South East Awards. The inspiring project also won two other special prizes: the RIBA South East Sustainability Award and Client of the Year. The judges commented: "Quality is high throughout, with the M&E virtually invisible within the main pool space, which is no mean feat."

Bridge Theatre (Haworth Tompkins) and Chadwick Hall (Henley Halebrown) at the University of Roehampton have both won 2018 RIBA London Awards.

RIBA was particularly impressed by the auditorium and acoustics at the Bridge Theatre: "The auditorium is ground-breaking both in design and construction, and in theatrical staging flexibility.

"Built off site in Norfolk, it was designed, trail erected for client review, and delivered to site fully integrated with ventilation, sound, lighting and AV infrastructure and architectural finishes.

"The acoustic quality in the entrance foyer was quiet, surprising for a large open space with a bar. The use of felt in the ceiling void for acoustic treatment and to hide services is attractive and inventive.

"This was a challenging project that was accomplished by a collaboration of experts who inventively resolved obstacles to produce a successful intimate new theatre."