The longest standing architecture awards scheme in Europe, The Civic Trust Awards, has celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Imperial War Museum, Trafford.
BDP, the international design practice headquartered in Manchester, was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of winning more awards as lead architect than any other practice, with 90 in total.
The Civic Trust, which aims to make places more attractive, enjoyable, distinctive, and promotes civic pride, began its national awards in 1959 to recognise outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment.
The practice, which now has eight international studios around the world with its head office in Manchester, won its first Civic Trust Award in 1963 for Bradshaw’s Motor House in Preston and, over the years, projects such as JP Morgan’s Headquarters, Hampden Gurney School and the Royal Opera House in London have also been successful.
More recently in 2018 Blackburn Meadows Biomass Station was awarded and as this year’s ceremony was held in Salford, it was fitting that the Ordsall Chord rail bridge linking Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria stations, was commended.
BDP Manchester studio Chair Gavin Elliott said: “This national award is wonderful news for everyone at BDP and especially for the team at the Manchester studio. We have our roots in the region, being founded in Preston 1961, and the practice has made a major contribution to the built environment in the north west, including in recent years Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Victoria rail station.
“Our socially progressive ethos and cross-discipline working has produced some amazing buildings, like the most recent win for the Ordsall Chord – a new piece of city scale placemaking. Long may the Civic Trust Awards and its enthusiasm for architecture and design to bring social and civic value continue.”
BDP Manchester studio Chair Gavin Elliott said: “This national award is wonderful news for everyone at BDP and especially for the team at the Manchester studio. We have our roots in the region being founded in Preston 1961 and the practice has made a major contribution to the built environment in the north west, including in recent years Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and more recently, the Ordsall Chord.
“We would like to congratulate the Civic Trust on the 60th anniversary of its awards programme, and wish it well for the future, as it continues to promote civic and social values, manifested through the medium of outstanding architecture and design.”
