Joseph Chamberlain College wins PM’s Award

Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Birmingham has won this year’s Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award, announced last night (14th October) at the British Construction Industry Awards (BCIA).

BDP was principal engineer, providing structural and acoustic consultancy for the newly relocated college in the Highgate area of Birmingham. The college, designed by Nicholas Hare Architects, has already won a RIBA award and the RIBA/LSC Further Education Building Design Excellence Award this year.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “This award is all about how creative design and high-quality construction lead to better public services. The college is an excellent example of this. I am sure it will inspire all who use it and make a real difference to the community.”

The judges commented that “the design and construction team worked seamlessly together on an outstanding project which has been welcomed hugely by the students and staff alike…It is outstanding in all aspects from concept through procurement, design and construction.“

The project is located on a brown field site which has undergone extensive remediation to clear unacceptable levels of contamination. The new building takes the form of a three storey crescent of teaching accommodation facing out to a busy main road and creating a sheltered semi-circular courtyard to the east - providing a tranquil environment from the surrounding noise and pollution.

Two BDP designed projects have previously won this coveted award. Last year the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton picked up the accolade, as did Bournemouth Central Library in 2003.