AYA 2024 shortlists: Social Value Award

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: Yẹmí Aládérun, head of development, Meridian Water, Enfield Council; Alexandra Andone, associate director, PRP; Amr Assaad, board director, Buckley Gray Yeoman; Lee Bennett, partner, design chair and school lead, Sheppard Robson; Sarah Cary, chief development officer Imperial College, White City Campus; Irene Craik, director, Levitt Bernstein; Alex Ely, founding director, Mae; Martyn Evans, creative director, LandsecU+I; Gavin Hale-Brown, director, Henley Halebrown; Tanvir Hasan, director emeritus, Donald Insall Associates; Lee Higson, board director, Eric Parry Architects; Nigel Hugill, chief executive, Urban & Civic; Kirsten Lees, managing partner, Grimshaw; Oliver Lowrie, director and founder, Ackroyd Lowrie; Anna Mansfield, director, Publica; Michelle McDowell, non-executive director, Civic; Ian McKnight, founding partner, Hall McKnight; John McRae, director and trustee, Orms; David Partridge, chairman, Related Argent; Sarah Robinson, asociate director, The King’s Foundation; Philippa Simpson, director for buildings and renewal, Barbican Centre; Kevin Singh, head, Manchester School of Architecture; Karl Singporewala, founder, Karl Singporewala Design Bureau; Jonathan Smales, founder and CEO, Human Nature; Elizabeth Smith, chairman and regional director, Purcell; Alan Stanton, principal director, Stanton Williams; Amin Taha, chairperson, Groupwork; Magali Thomson, project lead for placemaking, Great Ormond Street Hospital; Tatiana von Preussen, co-founder and director, vPPR; Jo Wright, director, Perkins&Will.

Today’s shortlist is for the category of Social Value Award.

alma-nac

The B Corp-certified practice has included two self-initiated projects in its entry. In response to the pandemic, alma-nac self-published the Simple Solutions for Safer Schools manual in collaboration with eight London schools. Design for All is a pro-bono scheme enabling small charities and community organisations to access professional expertise. Its submission also features two community spaces, Tooting Works and Pier Road in Erith.

Curl la Tourelle Head Architecture

The practice cites ‘tackling inequality through design’ as being at the heart of its approach. Alfreton Park Community Special School in Derbyshire offers a secure, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment. Intensive community engagement informed both Your Bruce Grove, a streets and spaces improvement project in Tottenham, and the Hodges Gap Pavilion in Margate, Kent. The entry also includes a new education centre on Lake Windermere.

HLM Architects

HLM defines social value ambitions and objectives for each project at inception, and monitors progress throughout, as well as engaging with user groups, lesser-heard voices and the wider community as part of the design process. In addition to three major built university buildings, HLM’s entry includes a student-led competition at Renfrew High School in Glasgow, which enabled participants to develop their own design and presentation skills.

INCH Architecture

The Glasgow-based social enterprise practice believes that good design is for everyone, and has collaborated with over 30 third sector organisations since its inception in 2012. Its entry showcases three community projects in Inverclyde: the Craigend Resource Centre in Greenoch East, and the horticulture-focused community hubs of Broomhill Gardens and Parklea. The latter is a flood-resilient pavilion overlooking the Clyde Estuary.

PM Group

Two medical research facilities comprise the entry from PM Group, which specialises in the design and delivery of complex, high-tech projects. Located in Massachusetts, in the USA, the EMD Serono facility is dedicated to advancing breast cancer research. The WELL Platinum rated project aims to increase the well-being of scientists, staff, and local residents alike. In Cork, Ireland, the practice has completed a 11,500m2 facility for Pfizer RCMF.

Purcell

The practice sees its responsibility as reaching ‘beyond the boundary of a building’. This is demonstrated in the transformation of the Manchester Museum, which includes accessible and inclusive new visitor facilities and involved extensive collaboration with local communities. Purcell’s entry also features a revitalisation of Rochdale’s declining high streets, the conversion of a mill into a theatre and community centre in Soham, and a creative enterprise hub for young people in Bristol.

 SKArchitects

The practice’s residential projects for homeless charity HARP in Southend-on-Sea have seen a measurable improvement in resident outcomes, including fewer residents needing to return to their services. The entry features two of these. Bluebird is a renovated terrace and new build mews incorporating support and activity spaces. Bradbury Mansions provides 23 bedspaces in three terraced properties, along with training and activity rooms.