Building of the Year: Television Centre and London Bridge station redevelopment among shortlist for top award
Architects' Journal has announced the shortlist for its AJ100 Building of the Year award, with four London projects making the seven-building list.
The award is given to the best building completed by an AJ100-listed practice in the past year, with the winner revealed at the annual AJ100 gala dinner event on June 19 at the Tower of London.
The shortlist
1. Television Centre
The dramatic three-year transformation of west London’s iconic BBC Television Centre has resulted in a new residential-led complex of 432 flats, cafes, restaurants and a terrace by Clerkenwell-based architecture practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM).
The hoardings on the original doughnut-shaped building, built between 1949 and 1960, and the newly-added outer ring came off in February 2018.
The development also includes three BBC Studios, a hotel and a gym.
2. London Bridge station
The epic redevelopment of London Bridge station by Grimshaw, which saw the station’s yearly capacity increased from 50 million to 90 million passengers per year, also makes the list.
The roof was designed as a series of ribbons from 1,200 pre-fabricated cassettes that look like a single structure from the air.
3. Southbank Centre
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ two-year refurbishment of the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Rooms and Hayward Gallery make it onto the shortlist.
The redesign was primarily a conservation project to replace building services, improve environmental performance, upgrade infrastructure to support the artistic programme and improve disabled access.
4. Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing
Jestico + Whiles’ restoration of this gallery in Ealing included restoration of the manor and entrance lodge, demolition of non-original elements, reinstatement of the conservatory, the construction of a new café and events building and refurbishment of the gallery as an exhibition space.
Meanwhile, outside of London, the three other contenders for the AJ100 Building of the Year are:
5. Beecroft Building, University of Oxford
Opened in 2018, Oxford's Beecroft Building houses the University's advanced physics research department.
The impressive building, completed by architects Hawkins\Brown, comprises state-of-the-art laboratories below ground and office spaces above.
6. The Richard A and Susan F Smith Campus Centre, Harvard
The redesigned Harvard University's Richard A and Susan F Smith Campus Centre includes new restaurants and study spaces for students.
Designed by Hopkins Architects, the redevelopment also includes newly designed outdoor spaces.
7. No 1 Spinningfields, Manchester
Set in Manchester's thriving business quarter, No 1 Spinningfields is a 20-storey office space designed by SimpsonHaugh and Partners.
The impressive building includes the city's highest restaurant and a must-see roof garden.