Best Public Building and BDA Building of the Year 2005

Architect: Allies and Morrison
Brickwork: S Minett Brickwork Contractors
Brickmakers: Ibstock Brick and Terca Wienerberger

Fitzwilliam College Gatehouse and Auditorium, Cambridge University

Unusually for a Brick Awards winner, this project comprises two distinct buildings. One is a rational, three-storey, brown brick gatehouse with residential accommodation above. The other is a contrasting auditorium building with abstract elevational compositions executed with almost clinical accuracy in creamy buff brick and glass. The result is two confident buildings that speak volumes about the role of brick in modern architecture. The judges enjoyed the relationship between the buildings and the landscaped space in between. They were even more impressed by the use of brick on two outstanding contemporary structures that enhance the academic environment and complement an already distinguished line-up of university buildings at Cambridge. For these reasons, this project was also awarded the BDA Building of the Year 2005.