A NEW multi-million-pound school has been named as one of the best buildings in the UK by the country's most prestigious architectural institution.
The £25m Kingswood Academy is one of the best examples of architecture, according to the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba).
The development was given a 2013 Riba National Award and a 2013 Riba Yorkshire Award.
The Wawne Road school, in Bransholme, was delivered by Hull Esteem Consortium as part of the £400m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and opened to pupils in September.
Sam Whitaker, chief executive of Hull Esteem Consortium, said: "As with every scheme on the project, we intended every element, every piece, every single component of this entire project to be exceptional.
"We had no intentions of ever letting the bar slip below extraordinary.
"There have been tough times over the past few years, but I can confidently say we have provided an exceptional schools estate for Hull and generations of young people.
"Here, we have further proof of the high esteem in which others hold us, which we are accomplishing.
"Winning these prestigious industry gongs makes Kingswood Academy an award- winning school. The awards recognise the best in building nationally and it is great to be part of it."
Hull Esteem Consortium was selected by Hull City Council as the preferred supplier to create 17 schools as part of the BSF programme.
It is made up of Morgan Sindall, local builders Sewell Group and Robertson Capital.
Morgan Sindall was the company behind the Kingswood Academy development.
Steffan Speer, operations manager at Morgan Sindall, said: "The client wanted an inspiring school that could engage students, and we were able to bring to bear our extensive experience of working on schools to help shape circulation routes and classroom adjacencies. We're delighted that this work has been recognised by Riba."
It comes only weeks after the BSF programme itself narrowly missed out in the annual Partnership Awards, which celebrates the work completed by public-private partnerships from across the globe.
The Riba National Awards are the most rigorously judged awards for architectural excellence in the UK and winning entries set the standard for good architecture.
They are projects that go beyond the brief and exceed the client's expectation.
Now, Kingswood will go to the shortlist for the coveted Riba Stirling Prize for the best building of the year, which will be drawn from the 52 Riba National and EU Award winners, including 43 buildings in the UK and nine buildings in the EU.
Hull City Council and Esteem also won a Best Yorkshire Client Team of the Year award for the building.
Councillor Rosie Nicola, portfolio holder for BSF, said: "At the start of the BSF programme, our aim was to transform teaching and learning environments by creating iconic school buildings across the city, and with Kingswood Academy we have done even more. It really does have the 'wow factor'.
"The city council was also awarded the accolade of best client. This is testament to the professionalism of the whole team involved in making the dream become a reality."
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