Magdalene College Library received the Gold Award at the Wood Awards 2021 as well as being voted as one of the Ten Coolest New Buildings to “Gawp” at this Year, by The Sunday Times architecture review.
The contemporary three-storey low-energy building, designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects, is located on the edge of the Fellows’ Garden, and echoes the gabled form of the surrounding College estate, including the adjacent Grade I listed Pepys Library. The build process included a bespoke blend of hand-made facing bricks with L-shaped structural piers supporting spruce glulam beams and exposed cross laminated timber floor slabs. The roof is constructed with twelve glazed lanterns, each formed with exposed engineered intersecting timbers covered with standing seam zinc cladding. The structural pattern incorporates eleven chimneys, of complex brick detailing, which promote natural ventilation, and internal spaces are formed with bespoke bookshelves, cabinetry and reading desks.
Jim Greaves, A Principle of Hopkins Architects and Chair of Judges for the Wood Awards, remarked: “Magdalene College Library is a tour de force of architectural design and achievement. The different forms of the reading rooms are beautiful and experienced sequentially as they lead one through the building. The brick, timber and stone has been designed exquisitely with a thorough understanding of their intrinsic qualities.”
The Nest a New Sports Hub in Horsford received a Community Building Commendation during the The Norfolk Association of Architects’ Design and Craftmanship Awards.The Awards are an annual celebration of projects throughout Norfolk which positively affect the built environment and aim to recognise all the people involved such as builders, architects, craftspeople and local interest groups.
Cambridge City Council have awarded our Delivery Team a Certificate of Excellence for their commitment as a Considerate Contractor during the redevelopment of the St Regis Site to form Student Accommodation for Clare College. These awards recognise contractors who demonstrate significant efforts to minimise noise and disruption on their projects, keeping their sites safe and clean in consideration of their neighbours and the general public.
