Two projects designed by Burrell Foley Fischer have been selected as Regional Winners in the 2022 LABC Building Excellence Awards, in the Best Public or Community Building category. The Roundhouse in Birmingham won in the West Midlands region and the Hall for Cornwall in Truro in the South West region. They are both also shortlisted finalists for the National Grand Finals, which will take place next January.
Local Authority Building Control (LABC) represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales. Their annual Building Excellence Awards celebrate achievements in the construction industry and recognise quality in all types of building project and individual contributions in the construction industry. They reward excellent buildings, outstanding companies, and partnerships and individuals that go that extra mile.
Birmingham Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is one of Birmingham’s most interesting, and iconic, industrial heritage buildings and consequently Listed Grade II*. A pioneering partnership between the Canal & River Trust and the National Trust, with funding from the NLHF Heritage Enterprise programme, has brought it back to life through an innovative blend of heritage and enterprise. The 19th century canal-side building has been transformed into a hub from which to explore the city by foot, bike or water.
The reopened building is a thriving home to local businesses and enterprise. It includes a visitor centre, café, kayak hire, facilities for volunteers and shared working space. In addition to a permanent exhibition explaining its history, there are spaces for temporary exhibitions linked to community events and festivals.
Hall for Cornwall
Hall for Cornwall, including two Listed buildings, is a performing arts venue in Truro, housing the largest theatre in Cornwall along with a cultural hub. The new auditorium, named Cornwall Playhouse, is a beautiful and flexible open space on three tiered-levels, providing a new dynamic relationship between performer and audience and enabling the organisation to deliver their artistic vision. The auditorium is seen as an open space, sitting within the granite box of the original marketplace walls visible from within the theatre space.
The project has increased the theatre’s audience capacity and provides a more intimate atmosphere with improved sightlines and acoustics, whilst improving accessibility and conserving and restoring important heritage elements and bringing them into better use. The refurbished venue also provides a warmer welcome and improved audience experience, including new cafés and bar areas on both sides of the listed buildings and a space to change facility.