Archived press release

Date Published: 26/11/07

The new-look Aylesbury College campus has been named and famed in a top design competition. The iconic £30 million development was crowned the best building at this year’s prestigious Aylesbury Vale District Council Design Awards. Ju...

The new-look Aylesbury College campus has been named and famed in a top design competition.

The iconic £30 million development was crowned the best building at this year’s prestigious Aylesbury Vale District Council Design Awards.

Judges said the modern four-storey building, designed by Bond Bryan Architects, “justly deserved recognition as an important contribution to the architecture of Aylesbury and the district”. They also praised its “attractive contemporary design”, “light and airy” interior spaces and its use of energy saving technology.   

Councillor Netta Glover, Chairman of Aylesbury Vale District Council, presented a plaque and a certificate to Steve Maslin of Bond Bryan Architects and representatives of the college at a ceremony held on 21 November at the Holiday Inn hotel in Aston Clinton.

Certificates were also presented to the following projects:
• The Spice Factory, Swan Business Park, Buckingham – This new factory, designed by Wilson Mason Partners, was highly commended as “an exemplary example of how a very large industrial building can be successfully integrated into the landscape”.
• The MacIntyre School, Wingrave – The architecture of this building, designed by Gavin Hinton Cook Architects and Bob Harrington Designs Ltd, was commended for providing “a calm, thoughtful, well-designed environment for pupils and staff”.
• The Betsey Wynne pub, Swanbourne – This recently-built pub, designed by Stephen Vanner of LAP Architects, received a commendation for its contribution to the local community. 
• Brill Combined School – An extension of the school building to provide three new classrooms was commended for its “careful attention to energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and the creation of a good teaching environment”. The project was designed by Jacobs UK Ltd and Buckinghamshire County Council.
• Booker Park School, Aylesbury – Another project designed by Jacobs UK Ltd and Buckinghamshire County Council, this new school for children and young people with complex special educational needs was commended for providing a “good highly functional building with some interesting design features”.

The council’s annual design award scheme was set up 14 years ago with the intention of encouraging and rewarding good design within the district. Non-residential and residential projects are considered for the awards in alternate years.

This year the council sought nominations for non-residential buildings, including schools, factories, offices and shops, built in the past four years.

A panel of six judges, including local councillors, architects and an energy efficiency expert, visited the buildings shortlisted for awards. The entries were judged against a number of criteria, including how well they fit into their surroundings, quality of design and construction, sustainability, innovation and attractiveness.

Councillor Sue Polhill, Cabinet Member for Planned Development, said: “With so many outstanding entries this year, the panel had great difficulty deciding which schemes deserved the honours. The design awards send a strong message to local residents that the council is committed to encouraging high quality development in Aylesbury Vale. Good design and architecture will help to make the district an even more attractive area, where people will choose to live, work and enjoy their leisure time.”