Round Foundry Building Wins Best of Best

The Round Foundry, Holbeck, Leeds has won Best of the Best in the BCO (British Council for Offices) Special Regional Awards in a ceremony in Manchester on Thursday 16 September.  One of the Round Foundry buildings also won the Refurbished/Recycled Workplace Building Category.

The Special Regional Awards for the North of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland were inaugurated this year (2004) to complement the Annual Conference held in Manchester.  The awards provided an opportunity in the North to recognise the achievements in the sector which are often encapsulated in smaller schemes below the 20,000 square foot threshold of the National competition.

The Round Foundry was established over 200 years ago as a manufactory of steam engines. It is the only surviving first-generation engineering works anywhere.  BDP's regeneration scheme involves selective demolition of recent structures, conservation and adaptive re-use of a number of buildings on the site, and the construction of new buildings.  The mixed use development comprises residential, offices and retail.

The BCO judges citation states:"This development has totally regenerated an area of Leeds which was non-desirable. The development which has retained many original materials and features is architecturally sensitive  and mixes old and contemporary in terms of finishes and detailing to achieve a sought after area to work, live and have fun. Natural ventilation and thermal insulation create a very comfortable environment. This was a delight. Full marks to the team for their courage to see the potential of the site and to follow through. The generation of a new neighbourhood with mixed use opportunities at this level of quality should be encouraged."

Building Design Partnership are architects, landscape architects, lighting designers and acoustic consultants for developers CTP St James. Structural engineer is EJC Consulting Engineers,
M&E Engineer is John Ryan Partnership and QS is Rex Proctor & Partners.