ARCHITECTURAL practice BDP has won a conservation accolade at this year’s GIA Awards for its Ayr Grammar Campus project.
The project also received a commendation in the Education category following the full refurbishment of a Grade B-Listed building that was originally home to Ayr Academy.
Designed by BDP’s Glasgow studio team, the restoration of the building is described as offering a ‘contemporary’ learning environment in a historic setting.
Following consultation with parents, pupils, staff, South Ayrshire Council, and the wider community, the new education hub has been created to offer a nursery, a primary school, a community arts centre, and a new home for the Ayrshire Archives and Registry which houses the repositories for historical records and the Ayrshire fine art collection.
BDP’s Lindsey Mitchell said, “What a fantastic week for BDP! We are incredibly proud to receive this commendation and the special award for conservation at Ayr Grammar. We understand that architects have a responsibility to design educational buildings for a diverse range of needs and to go above and beyond to create meaningful experiences in these spaces.
“Ayr Grammar is a great example of our approach to the restoration of historic buildings and how their reuse can be sustainable and relevant to contemporary education, providing spaces that deliver both academic and social benefits to the wider community. We have successfully breathed new life into a fantastic building.”
The GIA Awards win follows BDP picking up Architectural Practice of the Year at the Learning Places Scotland Awards, with Maidenhill Primary School and Nursery also winning the award in the Inspiring Learning Spaces Category.
