The first phase of Heslington East and the superb Ron Cooke Hub building, which sits at the heart of the campus development, received Gold Awards at the RIBA Northern Network Awards 2011 in Newcastle.
The University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Estates and Strategic Projects Elizabeth Heaps was also presented with a Client of the Year award.
The RIBA Northern Network Awards celebrate and reward architecture, landscape and interior design across the north of England. The awards aim to highlight the excellent work produced by architects and their teams, demonstrate the importance of good quality architecture and urban design in contemporary society. They also demonstrate how good architecture is integral to the economy of the region.
Judges described Heslington East cluster 1 as "an extremely complex project that has been carried out with great dexterity and aplomb". They also said "the Hub manages to retain a very comfortable human scale, yet as the client has said 'there is an air of excitement about the building which transmits itself into activities and people in it'".
The judges referred to Elizabeth Heaps' enthusiasm as "highly infectious", adding, "this client has successfully delivered a series of projects on time, on budget and to a high quality. Great architecture can only be delivered with the foresight of great clients and this client falls firmly into this category."
Earlier this year the Masterplan for the Heslington East development also won a national RIBA award for architectural excellence. The design brief for the expansion was prepared with input from the University of York, the architects BDP, the engineers ARUP and planning consultants O'Neill Associates. The Ron Cooke Hub has also won a number of architectural awards including the York Design Award in the New Build, Non-residential, Public category.
Elizabeth Heaps said: "The University of York is regularly ranked in the top 100 universities world-wide for teaching and research, and it is therefore vital that our space and facilities are of the highest standard. The awards recognise that the rich variety of spaces, places and buildings on our new Heslington East campus are creating a vibrant community for students, staff and our business partners. The Ron Cooke Hub is rapidly becoming the meeting place of choice for business leaders in York."
BDP's Architect Director Stephen Hill added: "It has been a pleasure working together with the University of York to reinterpret the best aspects of its original campus in a manner suitable for today's very different university environment. The project has given us a unique opportunity to create dynamic and exciting learning spaces and it is a delight to see these being owned and loved by their users."
The 65-hectare Heslington East campus extension, is based on a combination of public and private funding, including support from the European Regional Development Fund. It will result in an increase in total student numbers at the University to 15,400 as well as creating up to 2,000 new jobs.
The £200 million first phase of the development at Heslington East opened in October 2010 and includes new accommodation for the Departments of Computer Science and Theatre, Film and Television and the York Law and Management Schools, as well as Goodricke College and the Ron Cooke Hub. Work is underway on the second phase including the relocation of Langwith College and a new Sports Village, both due to open in 2012.
The RIBA Northern Network Awards were presented at the Newcastle Civic Centre on 4 November to Elizabeth Heaps and BDP architects Stephen Hill and Richard McDowell by Angela Brady, the President of RIBA.
Heslington East campus expansion wins three architecture awards
