“Belfast is a thriving city but also packed with potential for so much more\u201d \u2013 RSUA Director Ciar\u00e1n Fox<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Judges said: \u201cThe new Student Hub at Queen\u2019s Business School is an outstanding achievement in holistic design, skilfully responding to a sensitive site, a complex brief and Queen\u2019s University\u2019s sustainability ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Four other buildings picked up awards from a shortlist of seven. Light House by McGonigle McGrath in Rory McIlroy\u2019s hometown of Holywood was named Northern Ireland\u2019s House of the Year.<\/p>\n
This is the fourth year in a row the practice has won the accolade but the first time the winner has been a \u2018re-use and extend\u2019 project.<\/p>\n
Silver Bark House outside Hillsborough by Marshall McCann Architects was awarded the Sustainability Award for its ambitious reduction of operational energy requirements and for keeping the embodied carbon from its construction to an absolute minimum.<\/p>\n
Another QUB building designed by Hawkins\\Brown and RPP Architects \u2013 One Elmwood Students Centre \u2013 won a Design Award.<\/p>\n
The centre replaced the 1960s students union with a multi-purpose vibrant space for students in a prominent location in the city directly across from the university\u2019s main building.<\/p>\n
For their work on both award-winning buildings, Queen\u2019s University was named as Northern Ireland\u2019s Client of the Year.<\/p>\n
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New Gate Arts and Culture Centre by McGurk Architects<\/p>\n
The final winner was McGurk Architects for its regeneration of New Gate Arts and Culture Centre in Derry which stands on a corner just outside the city\u2019s historic walls.<\/p>\n
The Roddy McCorley Heritage Centre and Templemore Baths were also shortlisted for the awards.<\/p>\n
The awards ceremony took place in Ulster University\u2019s Belfast campus, with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons presenting the top prize.<\/p>\n
During the event, Katie Stringer, architect at Belfast practice Studio Idir, was named RSUA Rising Star. The award was established to recognise the significant and often unseen contribution made by architects in the early stages of their career.<\/p>\n
RSUA Director Ciar\u00e1n Fox paid tribute to the winners.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is often said that architecture reflects the priorities in society and highlights where investment in the longer-term is valued,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“On that thinking, it is very reassuring that some of the best architecture being produced in Northern Ireland is for our students.<\/p>\n