Cancer care centre with the winning design

NATURE meets architecture at the new centre

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MAGGIE'S Oldham has won not one but two prestigious construction awards.

The cancer care centre, which officially opened last month, won the Project of the Year and Manchester Sub-Regional Project of the Year at the 11th North West Regional Construction Awards.

The centre - named Maggie's Oldham: The Sir Norman Stoller Building, and built within the grounds of the Royal Oldham Hospital - impressed judges with its unique design which focuses on bringing nature inside and offering a welcoming environment for those affected by cancer.

The nomination said: "The building sits on six slender stilts, enabling it to hover over a garden. It offers open air rooms framed by pine and birch trees.

"One unique and innovative aspect of the project is that trees grow up through the building, bringing nature into the interior."

Organisations involved in the construction included F Parkinson Ltd, Maggie's Centres, de Rijke Marsh Morgan (dRMM) Architects, Robert Lamberdelli Partnership and Booth King Partnership Ltd.

Oldham's Old Town Hall regeneration, which has already won a host of awards, including three honours at the North West Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards, was also a winner at the ceremony in Manchester in June.

The £37 million project, which saw the dilapidated old town hall transformed into a quality family entertainment and dining destination last year, won the Preservation & Rejuvenation Award.

Councillor Jean Stretton, Oldham Council leader, said: "We're delighted Oldham's Old Town Hall has been recognised with another prestigious award ."

The original building dates back to 1841, however in 2009 the Old Town Hall was declared one of the UK's Top Ten Buildings at Risk by the Victorian Society after being vacant since 1995.

Intensive renovation works at the iconic Grade II-listed building took place alongside the addition of a new glass and sandstone extension.

Councillor Stretton said: "It is not just a stunning building, the Old Town Hall is our flagship regeneration project. There is still much more to come for Oldham."

The awards were held at The Principal, Manchester, and were attended by more than 560 guests.

Hosted by the University of Salford, The Centre for Construction Innovation and Constructing Excellence, the night saw 20 award winners and 10 Highly Commended finalists rewarded for their accomplishments.

More than £4,000 was raised for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, the supported charity on the night.

Professor Peter McDermott, director of constructing excellence North-West and judges chairman, said: "This year the judges have been challenged by the quantity and the quality of the applications."