Phoenix Square’s unique design, creative space and sense of community has secured Leicester’s mixed used development a place on the shortlist of two more awards. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in the East Midlands and national housing and regeneration body, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), have both selected Phoenix Square as a finalist in their annual awards.
For the buildings innovative design and construction, RIBA has added Phoenix Square, designed by architects Marsh Grochowski, to its shortlist and judges from the expert panel will be visiting the site on 14th July 2010.
The HCA award, in the “Flourishing Places” category, focuses on the wider contribution Phoenix Square has made to the regeneration of the St George’s Cultural Quarter and the creative community it is developing through its unique vision of living, working and learning within a central cultural hub. Judges were impressed whilst visiting last week and the project team will attend a final assessment in London on 15th July 2010.
John Long of Blueprint, the developer behind Phoenix Square said: “This is an excellent achievement for Phoenix Square to be recognised for two very different reasons, the innovative and sustainable design, as well as the community vision. It goes to show how Phoenix Square is really embedding itself as a focal point for design, creative and inspiration in the heart of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter and helping to make the city flourish. ”
Since opening in November 2009, Phoenix Square has proved a hit with home owners, tenants and businesses alike, now over 50% occupied and with a full events, conference and creative workshop programme. It has already a scooped a reader’s choice award from First Time Buyer magazine and received highly commended in the Royal Institute of Charters Surveyors East Midlands Awards. The judges decisions will be revealed at Award ceremonies in September 2010.
Phoenix Square is a unique cultural building which combines contemporary living space, with independent arts cinema, an immersive gallery, screen lounge café bar, state of the art workspaces and office studios to house Leicester’s growing number of creative businesses. It is the creation of a partnership project between Blueprint, Phoenix, Leicester City Council in collaboration with De Montfort University and is an example of 21st century sustainable building design, coupled with leading-edge architectural quality.
For enquiries about homes at Phoenix Square call James Sellicks Special Projects on 0116 285 1600 and keep up to date at www.twitter.com/phoenixsquare or visit www.phoenixsquare.org/living.
