Somerville College Student Accommodation in Oxford was awarded a certificate of commendation for the RIAI Silver Medal for housing 2011-2012. The award is to encourage excellence of design in housing by giving public recognition to architects responsible for buildings of exceptional merit. It is awarded five years after the competition so the building can be evaluated in a mature setting.
Information on the award can be found here.
On the 9th February Niall will be attending the 3 day Architecture Foundation Ozetecture Diversity and Community Conference in Melbourne to deliver a key note speech. Drawing speakers from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia, the theme Diversity + Community is a unique opportunity for architects to explore some of the less-charted terrains of architectural practice and to consider the role of architecture as a positive force in uncertain times.
On the 11th January Jesus College held a topping out ceremony to celebrate the laying of the final stone on the roof of its West Court development. The project provides state-of-the-art conference and lecture facilities, hotel and student accommodation, and social spaces including a new café and bar.
Professor Ian White who led the ceremony said: “We are delighted that the chance has arisen to restore the college site to its original boundaries and excited by the opportunity it brings to take the facilities we can offer to students, fellows, alumni and the wider world to a new level of excellence. Our West Court Development has an outstanding selection of spaces and accommodation, suitable for a wide range of different uses”
The below image shows the Managing Director of Cocksedge Building Contractors Steve Nugent, the Estates Burser Christopher Pratt and Professor Ian White at the topping out ceremony.