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Iconic Cardiff buildings up for architecture awards

SIX Cardiff buildings have been nominated for architectural awards by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The RICS awards is made up of eight categories which celebrate inspirational regional projects and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.
Among the nominees is the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre. The CUBRIC building, located on the Cathays campus, is a state of the art centre for brain research which competes with the best facilities in the world. It was opened in 2016 by the Queen, and has been nominated in the Design Through Innovation category.
Dr Kevin Murphy, a Research Fellow who works at the CUBRIC building, said: “The new Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre is a very exciting place to work. With the wealth of expertise and such a large array of world-class equipment under one roof, the scientific possibilities are boundless.”

The CUBRIC building, Cathays campus, which has been nominated for the Design Through Innovation category
The CUBRIC building, Cathays campus, nominated for the Design Through Innovation category

Jack Briggs, 25, is a Cardiff University MSc Neuroimaging student, based at the CUBRIC building.
“It’s a very modern, state of the art building. The architecture is truly amazing, unique and cutting edge. It’s a further demonstration of the university’s ambitions to expand internationally and to become a global leading institute,” he said.
 

 
Another project being recognised is One Central Square, opposite Cardiff Central railway station. It was completed in March 2016 and is the first phase of the Central Square masterplan, which should be completed by 2018.
One Central Square was designed by Rio Architects. Lee Protheroe, an Associate at the firm, said: ““Rio Architects is delighted that our design for One Central Square in Cardiff has been shortlisted for the RICS Awards 2017 in both the Commercial and Regeneration categories. Our close working relationship with Rightacres Property Company and their team has delivered a landmark facility that has raised the bar for office design in Wales and acted as a catalyst for the regeneration of the wider Central Square masterplan.”

One Central Square - the first phase of the Central Square masterplan
One Central Square – the first phase of the Central Square masterplan

As well as being the new home of BBC Wales it will create new commercial and retail spaces, while also improving transport links both from Cardiff Central station and within the city itself.
The first phase of the unfinished One Central Square development, which aims to create a new gateway to the city
The first phase of the unfinished One Central Square development, which aims to create a new gateway to the city

The iconic Tramshed building in Grangetown has been nominated for awards in the Building Conservation and Regeneration categories. The nominations come hot on the heels of the news that that the Tramshed is to receive £200,000 of funding from the Welsh Government to continue the development of the site. The building is home to a music venue, bar, technology hubs, a cinema and live/work spaces.
Ashley Lister, Chair of Grangetown Community Action and Labour council candidate, said: “It’s fantastic that the Tramshed has been shortlisted for the RICS Awards 2017 in not only one, but two categories. The regeneration and conservation of the Tramshed has been a real success for Grangetown and Cardiff.
“To me, taking a disused council building and developing it to include a cinema, bar, music venue and tech hubs, with more developments to come, shows true innovation.
“The tramshed now has so many great facilities which are attracting different groups from Cardiff and the surrounding areas, and I am truly looking forward to seeing future successes.
“Grangetown Community Action are also looking forward to hopefully holding a Gala Dinner at the venue later this year. I’d like to wish the Tramshed all the best at the awards and hope they bring back awards in both categories — good luck.”
The iconic roofs of the Tramshed building, Grangetown
The iconic roofs of the Tramshed building, Grangetown

 
 
 

 

The awards will be presented by BBC presenter Lucy Owen on April 27 at Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa, which itself won the Design and Innovation prize at the 2016 RICS Awards.
There are six awards up for grabs at the prestigious ceremony. The categories are Building Conservation, Commercial, Community Benefit, Design Through Innovation, Regeneration and Tourism and Leisure.
The other Cardiff buildings which have been nominated, and their award categories, are:
Building conservation

  • Cornerstones, Cardiff

Commercial

  • 2 Kingsway, Cardiff

Community benefit

  • Cornerstones, Cardiff

Tourism and leisure

  • Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff