Huddersfield University’s building gets architectural award

Oct 12 2009 By Emma Davison

University’s building gets award

A FLAGSHIP building that transformed Huddersfield University’s campus has won a prestigious award.

The Creative Arts Building, fronting on to Queensgate, has been singled out by the country’s top architects.

It has won the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) Award for Technical Excellence.

The imposing £15m building was designed by Leeds-based architects firm Darnton Elgee.

It is considered to be one of the most exciting and inspirational teaching and research facilities for music and arts courses in the university sector.

The building was designed to ensure maximum sustainability, using a mixture of natural materials including wood to create a warm but sharp image with a low carbon footprint.

The building was ‘commended’ in recognition of its technical excellence.

Barry le Beauvant, president elect of CIAT, said: “The design achieved its aims and the use of materials both internally and externally provide and impressive and vibrant building.”

He presented the university’s vice-chancellor Professor Bob Cryan and Keith Hardcastle, partner at Darnton Elgee Architects, with a plaque for the building.

They were also presented with a cheque and certificate.