The RICS Grand Final Awards 2019 took place in London last week, and Doig+Smith was there to support two of its nominated projects!
Regarded as the premier property and construction awards in the UK, this annual event celebrates the most innovative projects up and down the country, with winners of the regional awards competing against each other to be crowned ‘Best in the UK’.
The West Dunbartonshire Council Office was nominated in the regeneration category, and we are delighted to say that it WON!
Once a symbol of doom and decline, the fire-ravaged Academy building has been completely transformed into a landmark that locals can enjoy, and be proud of.
The £14.5m government-funded project not only restored the Grade A listed façade at 16 Church Stree, Dumbarton, it also built open-plan offices and community facilities directly behind it.Today the site is home to over 500 council staff, who enjoy working in a more efficient, collaborative and inspiring environment. Having relocated from the outskirts, the workforce brought with them spending power that is already benefiting retailers in the local town centre.
RICS judges also commended the project team for restoring life to the work of Scottish Architect William Leiper. The West Dunbartonshire Council office is truly a skilled example of how to merge the old with the new, whilst ensuring functionality and purpose.
Our other nominated project, Mackintosh at the Willow, narrowly missed out on the top prize for building conservation, but can still be proud of its ‘highly commended’ status in this highly competitive category.
The Mackintosh at the Willow project involved the careful execution and detailed restoration of the original Willow Tea Rooms building to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s 1903 design. A Visitor Centre was also created in the adjacent tenement building at 215 Sauchiehall Street, containing exhibition, education, conference, and office facilities.
We are beyond proud to have been involved in both of these fantastic projects, and the formal recognition is the icing on the cake. Congratulations to all involved.
Be sure to click the links above to learn more about our specific role in each of these projects, and to see more pictures.
To see a list of all Doig+Smith award-winning projects, visit the ‘Awards’ page of our website.