The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service and the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry are pleased to publish the winners of the Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards 2023, announced at an awards ceremony on Monday, 13 March, hosted by the CFCI at the McGrath Centre, St. Catharine’s College.
Submissions were welcomed from the whole of the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Area, including both the City and South Cambridgeshire District. The awards celebrate the best construction projects completed in Greater Cambridge, including new buildings and conservation, alterations, or extensions to existing buildings.
We are pleased to celebrate and showcase the design and construction skills, craftsmanship and engineering which have continued through this period and contributed to the built environment of our region.
The judges visited shortlisted projects in early February to examine the buildings submitted in greater detail and experience the spaces first-hand.
The judges would like to thank all the teams who submitted entries for the 2023 awards. The judging criteria for the awards included the context and the brief for the building, the design solution adopted, the quality and difficulty of the construction and the craftsmanship displayed in the building. Accessibility and the creation of an inclusive environment are also vital considerations.
Each scheme is expected to address environmental concerns, including energy performance. In addition, where possible, the projects are expected to contribute to the natural environment both on the building and in the landscape around the building.
There are also three ‘People Award’ categories for those working in the construction industry and related professions. The people awards recognise the achievements of those who have excelled in their fields in the design and construction industry.
The winners of the People Awards are:
- Apprentice of the Year: Connor Howell, 3C Shared Services Building Control
- Young Professional of the Year: Lauren New, Cambridge Investment Partnership
- Site Manager of the Year: Julian Redpath, Cocksedge
The project award categories for 2023 are:
- Best New Neighbourhood
- Best New Building (under £2m construction costs)
- Best New Building (over £2m construction costs)
- Best Conservation, Alteration, or Extension of an Existing Building (under £2m construction costs)
- Best Conservation, Alteration, or Extension of an Existing Building (over £2m construction costs)
- David Mackay Award for Engineering and Sustainability
- Craftsmanship Award
- Contractor Award
The judging panel was chaired by Dame Fiona Reynolds, former master of Emmanuel College Cambridge and former director-general of the National Trust. The submission process and judging process were jointly facilitated by the GCSPS and CFCI volunteer trustees.