A Jamaican firm was among several recognised for excellence in the inaugural Caribbean Building Awards (CBA) for its design of a new archives building for the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus.
The project won in the Health/Sports/Education category, and one of its designers, Robert Woodstock, was also recognised for his work in the architectural field across the region.
But the majority of awards, sponsored by the Ansa McAl Group of companies, went to Trinidad and Tobago firms.
The awards were presented at the Dr. Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence in Macoya, Trinidad. Judging was done by Gustavo Luis Moré of the Dominican Republic, Christian Galpin of Guadeloupe and Ronny Lobo of Curaçao.
The UWI archives project was designed by Harold Morrison and Robert Woodstock Associates Limited.
The architect's concept was for a "building within a building," said a press release on the awards, "where the repository acts as the core with physical and climatic protection above and to the sides."
Other entities involved with the design included L. Smith Associates quantity surveyor; Hue Lyew Chin civil/structural engineer; Ashley and Associates, electrical engineer; and Louise Fletcher and Associates, mechanical engineer.
Their brief from UWI was to "improve and permanently establish the university's archive facility by constructing a modern building with amenities for the long-term management, storage, protection, and conservation of records for research and reference."
Outgoing chair
The CBA is sponsored by the Ansa McAl Group of Companies. Woodstock, outgoing chair of the Association of Caribbean Societies of Architects, also won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Architecture.
In addition to his work as part-time design tutor in architecture master's programme at the University of Technology, Woodstock has helped to judge design competition and awards across the region.
He has served the Commonwealth Association of Architects, Jamaican Institute of Architects, and the Joint Consultative Committee for the Building and Construction Industry of Jamaica - now Construction Industry Council.
Woodstock's past winning designs include Sunshine Village/ Singles Negril, National Commercial Bank's Harbour Street branch restoration, the UWI/CDB Continuing Education Facility at Harrison House on the Cornwall College campus, Montego Bay, and the Bay West Centre, Montego Bay.
The winning entries in CBA 2006
Civic/Institutional/Religious Category:
National Carnival & Entertainment Centre
Design Collaborative Associates Limited (Trinidad & Tobago)
Commercial/Office/Industrial Large Category:
e-Teck Flagship Building
Reynald Associates Ltd. (Trinidad & Tobago)
Commercial/Office/Industrial Small Category:
Alutech Research & Development Centre
Jenifer Smith Architects Limited (Trinidad & Tobago)
Health/Sport/Education Category:
UWI Archives Building
HM+RW Associates Limited (Jamaica)
Residential Multi-family Category:
UWI Halls of residence
Design Collaborative Associates Limited (Trinidad & Tobago)
Residential Single Family Category:
Artist House and Studio
Jenifer Smith Architects Limited (Trinidad & Tobago)
Tourism/Entertainment Category:
Queens Hall Interior Renovation
Gillespie + Steel Limited (Trinidad & Tobago)
Special Awards
Small Projects:
Boeri Lake Platform
Eugene Royer Architects ERA (Dominica)
Innovation:
e-Teck Flagship Building
Reynald Associates Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago)
Interiors:
Queens Hall Interior Renovation
Gillespie + Steel Limited (Trinidad & Tobago).
