AYA 2023 shortlists: Public Building Architect of the Year

Earlier this year BD announced all the architects who made it on to the shortlists for our prestigious annual Architect of the Year Awards.

Now we are shining the spotlight on each category in turn and publishing a selection of the images that impressed the judges.

This year’s judges include: Jo Bacon, partner, Allies & Morrison; Murray Kerr, director, Denizen Works; Dav Bansal, partner, Howells; Kay Hughes, design director HS2; Peter Caplehorn, chief executive, Construction Products Association; Peter Fisher, director, Bennetts Associates; Anna Hollyman, Senior Sustainability Advisor, UK Green Building Council; Marta Galinanes Garcia, director, AKTII; Darryl Chen, partner, Hawkins\Brown; Lee Higson, director, Eric Parry Architects; Maria Joao Reis, senior associate, Maccreanor Lavington

Today’s shortlist is Public Building Architect of the Year Award.

AOC Architecture

Three cultural projects and one community building comprise the entry from AOC. In London, the practice redesigned the galleries and public areas of the Young V&A, formerly the Museum of Childhood, and redesigned the Crafts Council Gallery in Islington. It is also on site with Locomotion New Hall at the National Railway Museum in County Durham. School Green Centre is a £2.9million community hub in Shinfield, Berkshire.

Bell Phillips

The entry features two pavilions within large-scale London regenerations. The Tree House is a focal point and amenity building for Elephant Park at Elephant & Castle. The CLT structure encircles a mature London Plane tree and has an upper viewing terrace. At King’s Cross, Jellicoe Gardens Pavilion is inspired by the historical Persian garden of Bagh-e-Fin and features an aperiodic patterned roof canopy.

Burrell Foley Fischer

The practice’s entry features the re-invigoration of four historic public buildings. A £21million refurbishment and remodelling of York’s Guildhall complex delivered new business, events and exhibition space. In Birmingham, the 19^th century Roundhouse building has been repurposed as a visitor centre. Hall for Cornwall is a £17million rejuvenation of a performing arts venue in Truro. The practice is working on the proposed restoration of Great Yarmouth’s Winter Gardens.

Foster Wilson Size

The £20million Brixton House new-build provides a home for Ovalhouse Theatre plus additional performance, rehearsal, working and community space. The entry also includes renovation of the Polka children’s theatre in Wimbledon and a £5 million restoration of the Trafalgar Theatre in Westminster. Outside London, the practice is working on the renovation and extension of Petersfield Festival Hall.

Gibson Thornley

The practice has completed the second phase of the Photography Centre at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The £4.9million project was co-designed with a group of young people and includes a camera obscura light and dark room that demonstrates the photographic process. The entry also features a £1.2million redesign of the Grade II listed Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Hugh Broughton Architects

At Clifford’s Tower, a remnant of York’s medieval royal castle, the practice has installed an internal timber viewing structure to protect the ruin and provide improved visitor access. The Painted Hall at Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich has been restored with the addition of a visitor centre in the undercroft. On the Isle of Sheppey, the fire-damaged Sheerness Dockyard Church is being renovated for mixed uses.

John McAslan + Partners

The practice has completed a £68million renovation of The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, one of the few Category A listed post-war buildings in Scotland. Two stations are featured in the entry - Bond Street Station on the Elizabeth Line in London and Sydney Central Station’s northern concourse. The practice will next year complete the Saïd Business School for the University of Oxford, a repurposing of a disused power station.