Plans for the council’s redevelopment of the Fairfield Halls and College Green have received top-level recognition with a New London Architecture (NLA) Award.
Lead architects Rick Mather, who are working with Mott MacDonald on the scheme, received the accolade for their work on the project in the NLA Conservation and Retrofit category.
They were applauded for the scheme that is about to get underway and will see the halls re-opened once fully refurbished in the summer of 2018.
Judges remarked that they could “see the project spinning off into a lot of secondary economic benefits,” and that the scheme will transform a building that “desperately needs to be brought back into decent use.”
The final performances prior to refurbishment take place next week, but the National Trust will be conducting guided tours of the building and other nearby architectural landmarks until July 24.
The council’s £30m regeneration project will bring back the best original features of the 1962-built Fairfield Halls and will transform College Green and the car park below it into a new contemporary gallery.
Councillor Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning, said: “It’s fantastic to see the plans we have had drawn up for the Fairfield have been given a professional seal of approval from experts across the globe.
“We are just two years away from opening the doors to an exciting new chapter in Croydon’s cultural future.”
Stuart Cade, Partner at Rick Mather Architects, said “We are delighted that our work at Fairfield Halls and College Green has been recognised by New London Architecture in the Conservation Category.
“This project provides a fantastic opportunity to build on the cultural legacy of Fairfield Halls, celebrating the strong original architecture, and developing high quality designs for new and improved facilities for future generations of Croydon residents to enjoy.
“The proposals make the activity within the buildings more transparent, improve the public realm to make the place more safe, more accessible and brought up to date.
“The aim is for the project to become a catalyst for wider regeneration, through the transfer of an underutilised space, to a new arts and community facility for Croydon. “
Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, James Murray, said: “Great architecture must marry design and function, helping us build a future London we can all be proud of.
All the projects recognised at this year’s awards make an important contribution to capital’s built environment and many have been delivered collaboratively with boroughs and City Hall.”
The annual awards are organised and hosted by New London Architecture to celebrate the best architecture and development recently completed or in design across the capital.
From a shortlist of 136 projects, 26 category winners were honoured across all sectors of London’s built environment. Each scheme was selected by a prestigious international jury advised by London-based experts for having both the highest design quality and most positive social and economic impact for London.
PROJECT TEAM
Client: London Borough of Croydon
Masterplanning /Architect: Rick Mather Architects
Structural Engineer: Mott MacDonald
M&E / Sustainability: Mott MacDonald
Planning Consultant: Turley
Landscape: Gross.Max
Project Manager/Cost: Mott MacDonald / Gerald Eve
Access Consultant: David Bonnett Associates
Arts / Performance Consultants: Anne Minors