We are pleased to reveal that three of our projects have been shortlisted for the 2020 RICS Social Impact Awards.
First up is Robroyston Railway Station, shortlisted in the Infrastructure Category. Opened in December 2019, this new train station offers a sustainable transport option for central Scotland. Located just minutes from junction two of the M80 – and with 263 free parking spaces – Robroyston encourages motorists in Robroyston, Millerston and the surrounding areas to swap their daily commute by car in favour of ‘greener’ public transport. The station itself provides the catalyst for the economic regeneration of the area with 1,600 new homes being developed nearby.
Next up is Kelvinside Academy’s NuVu Innovation School, nominated in the Education Category. The NuVu Innovation School is a unique learning environment designed to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators by creating a synergy between education, industry, technology and enterprise. Constructed under the principles of circularity, the centre is an extension to the school’s main building, comprising 3 floors including a workshop with adjoining teaching space, an arts studio and multi-purpose learning studio. Students are challenged to engage in hands-on problem solving, developing creative solutions for real-world problems with a social or environmental impact.
The third Doig+Smith project to be shortlisted for an RICS Social Impact Award is Edinburgh Printmakers, a C-listed building with a rich history. Previously in a state of serious disrepair, the site has now been fully refurbished and restored and today operates as a multi-use arts complex, centred around printmaking. With two free-to-access galleries, a café, community garden, shop and education space, Edinburgh Printmakers is much more than a printmaking studio. This unique facility encourages people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to come together to make, view and enjoy art. Furthermore, the approach to the building’s redevelopment was highly sustainable through adaptive reuse of existing structures. This project has been nominated in both the leisure and heritage categories.
The ceremony for the RICS Social Impact Awards will take place on April 23rd in Edinburgh’s Sheraton Grand Hotel and this year’s event has a different focus than previous occasions. New for 2020, event organisers are keen to highlight projects that go way beyond ‘bricks and mortar’, demonstrating the real human impact of the built environment.
Director Gordon McLintock comments, “We are delighted to see three of our projects nominated for an RICS Social Impact Award, particularly in a year when the emphasis is on real-life impact. With this change in direction, the shortlisted projects are of the highest standard possible, and to win an award would be even more special. We look forward to attending the event alongside our clients, in what is sure to be an enjoyable afternoon.”