LSC and Royal Institute of British Architects announce the short list

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The Learning and Skills Council (LSC), in association with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), today announced the shortlist of the prestigious Further Education Design Awards 2007.The awards recognise design excellence in the Further Education (FE) sector and the winningarchitect will be awarded a prize of £5,000.

This year saw an exceptionally high standard of entries and the judges shortlisted the followingcolleges:

College Architect Finalists:

Arcadia Fashion Retail Academy, London Nightingale Associates

Darlington College Ellis Williams Architects

Gloucester College AWW

Matthew Boulton College, Birmingham Bond Bryan Architects

The Kilburn Centre, College of North West London Alistair Hay GHM Rock Townsend

Usworth Sixth Form College, Sunderland Dewjo”c Architects

All entries were built in the last two years and were judged on their innovation, excellence,adaptability, atmosphere, and “feel good factor”. The judges will now visit each of the shortlistedcolleges before determining the winning design that is deemed to provide the most effective andinnovative learning environment. The trophy and prize will be presented at the RIBA LSC Conference in March 2008, where an exhibition of all the shortlisted entries will be shown.

Ian Caldwell, Chair of the judges and Director of Estates and Facilities, King’s College London,said: “All the judges were immensely impressed by the quality and innovation of all the entries.They clearly demonstrate the high standard of design in the FE sector. We are looking forward to that promotes the positive benefits of education and training.”

Philip Head, fellow judge and Director of Infrastructure & Property Services at the LSC, said: “Thequality of the entries shows the positive impact the record investment in the FE Estate is having.All the shortlisted architects and colleges have created world class spaces that inspire people tolearn.”

Over the past six years, the LSC has approved grants of around £1.5 billion to support 620 building projects in the learning and skills sector, worth a total of around £3.8 billion. More than half of the FE Estate has already been renewed, providing high quality facilities to all learners.Further Education Design Awards 2007Judging Panel:

Ian Caldwell Chair and Director of Estates and Facilities, King’s College London

Philip Head Director of Infrastructure & Property Services, LSC

Liz Rushton Principal of West Herts College

Nigel Robbins Principal of Cirencester College

John Walker Walker Simpson Architects