Telford Convention Quarter wins architecture awards

Telford Convention Quarter wins architecture awards

Shared by - Mriganka Banikya

Telford’s new multi-million pound Convention Quarter within the Southwater development has been recognised within the architectural community, following three awards wins.The Southwater One building, which sits at the heart of the £250m Southwater development, scooped three gold prizes at the 2015 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Regional Awards, held in Digbeth, Birmingham, earlier this month.
Sarah Bird, business tourism manager for Meet Telford & Shropshire, the official convention bureau for the region, said: “Design and innovation is in our destination’s DNA and to be recognised by RIBA for the quality of our developments is a major success.
“Southwater and the emerging Convention Quarter is a 10-year ambition realised, and has literally transformed the very fabric of our destination.”
Telford’s gold-clad Southwater One building was one of five winners announced as part of the Excellence in Architecture Award.
Telford & Wrekin Council, who commissioned the project, won the Client of the Year Award, and architect Rupert Walshe - of Associated Architects - triumphed in the Project Architect of the Year category.
Kate Callis, Telford & Wrekin Council’s assistant director for development, business and employment, added: “Southwater has been incredibly well received since it opened and we feel we really have changed both the appearance and atmosphere of our town centre as a result.”
Telford welcomes 5,000 events per annum and 1.5m visitors, figures which the bureau says are set to grow thanks to the success of the Southwater Development.