EDINBURGH Printmakers has won the Project of the Year accolade at the inaugural RICS Social Impact Awards for Scotland.
The new home of Edinburgh Printmakers is located within what was once the headquarters of the North British Rubber Company. The building is the only surviving structure from the 19th Century Castle Mills industrial complex. The project involved the redevelopment of this derelict building into a multi-use arts complex centred around printmaking production.
35 transformational construction projects were shortlisted back in February for the awards, which comprised of eight categories.
All of the Scottish winners were announced in a digital awards ceremony revealed by RICS. Other winning projects include the new TECA event complex in Aberdeen and the University of Glasgow’s Campus Development.
The awards – which are supporting The Prince’s Trust campaign to get more young people into construction – were launched earlier this year to find the best examples of developments delivering economic, social or environmental improvements for their communities.
The full list of winners is as follows:
- Project of the Year: Edinburgh Printmakers
- Commercial: TECA – creating a world-class events and leisure complex
- Education: University of Glasgow Campus Development
- Healthcare: Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice
- Heritage: Edinburgh Printmakers
- Infrastructure: Glenrothes Energy Network
- Leisure: The Fraser Centre
- Residential: North Sighthill Regeneration
- Student Accommodation: Baird’s Close Two
Colin Smith, head of planning for Turley in Scotland and head judge for the RICS Social Impact Awards in Scotland said, “The Edinburgh Printmakers project has saved and creatively adapted one of the last vestiges of the industrial and social history of Fountainbridge, the former headquarters of the North British Rubber Factory. The project has ingeniously inserted a range of public facing new uses into the building, respecting its fabric, character and heritage, and done so in a way that provides access for all throughout and which opens the building out to engage with its emerging surroundings. It is a multi-faceted gem.
“The built environment is an integral part of the Scottish economy but also makes a positive impact on our everyday lives. In these challenging times, it is warming to reflect on these winning projects, and how they are not only a demonstration of the breadth of talent within the profession, but showcase how buildings can make towns and cities across the country more inclusive and deliver communities which people can be proud of.”
