Perth Concert Hall has won a prestigious national award in the 'Regeneration' category at the 2006 British Construction Industry Awards, which took place at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Thursday 26 October.
The British Construction Industry Awards receive a huge amount of entries, from hundreds of projects within the UK and abroad. They are also rigorously judged, and although architectural and engineering excellence is a factor, these awards are all embracing and consider many aspects including procurement, performance against prediction, innovation, and benefits to the community to name but a few. The Regeneration Award is given to a project, of any size, which has made a significant contribution to the regeneration of an underprivileged area and/or the creation of new facilities making exceptional use of brownfield sites.
The judges highlighted the factors which influenced their decision in awarding Perth Concert Hall with the BCI Regeneration award: Perth lost a scruffy car park and gained an attractive, flexible and superbly equipped multi-purpose concert hall. A great result delivered by a close knit design and build team, and a fine example of how a cultural building can contribute strongly to a regeneration programme.
Bruce Kennedy, Project Architect at Building Design Partnership (the company which designed the concert hall) believes the role of Horsecross in the economic development of Perth City Centre should be acknowledged in this award. "This is a very prestigious award and I’m sure Horsecross will be delighted, as we are, with winning in this category," says Bruce. "It demonstrates not only the success of the building, but also the immense efforts made by Horsecross in jump-starting regeneration not only locally but in the wider context of Perthshire."
Building Design Partnership was architect, interior designer and acoustic consultant for Perth Concert Hall; the design and build contractor was Sir Robert McAlpine.