University Performing Arts Studios shortlisted for National Civic Trust Award
The new Performing Arts Studios building at the University of Winchester is on the shortlist of winners for this year’s Civic Trust Awards, one of the longest standing built environment awards schemes in Europe.
The new Performing Arts Studios building at the University of Winchester is on the shortlist of winners for this year’s Civic Trust Awards, one of the longest standing built environment awards schemes in Europe.
The 2012 shortlist was drawn up from a total of 306 national and international entries. It recognises high quality design projects that have been judged to have made a positive cultural, social or economic contribution to the local community.
“The Performing Arts Studios are a delight, both to teach in and to learn in,” commented Professor Anthony Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Winchester. “The building provides a rehearsal environment of the highest professional standard which not only encourages student aspirations but also enables us to develop productive links with professional artists and companies who might also want to utilise these fantastic spaces during non-teaching periods.”
The building, designed by Design Engine Architects of Winchester, contains six performance spaces for physical theatre and human movement as well as flexible teaching facilities for seminars and academic workshops. As well as being thermally efficient and naturally aspirated, it is totally soundproof to protect nearby residents from noise, with no opening windows, dense concrete floors and a steel wall hidden from neighbours by a green ‘living’ wall.
“The Performing Arts Studios had to be designed with both the needs of the local and wider community in mind,” explained the University’s Director of Estates, John Mann who led the project. “I think it is a great achievement by the entire design team to produce a building that meets a very innovative brief. The success of the building is very clearly endorsed by staff and students at the University.”
Other local projects on the shortlist of winners include Gosport Railway Station and Forest Park Special School in Southampton. The 2012 Civic Trust Awards Ceremony takes place Friday 2 March at The Hub in Edinburgh.
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Notes to editors:
Since its opening in January 2010, the Performing Arts Studios building at the University of Winchester has welcomed a number of prestigious artists including, most recently, members of Handspring, the performing arts company behind War Horse, both in the West End and on Broadway. The studios have also been used regularly by external community groups and hosted a number of residential events including the National Dance Teachers Association Conference, Song Stage and Screen Conference and IP International Conference.
Other National architectural design awards won by the University of Winchester include:
Regional RIBA Award in 2008 for the University Centre
RIBA Award 2000 and Civic Trust Award 2001 for the Martial Rose Library
RICS 2003 for West Downs Student Village
Civic Trust Award 2003 for West Downs Centre
Further information about the Civic Trust Awards 2012 can be found on www.civictrustawards.org.uk
For further information about the architects see www.designengine.co.uk