2005 Best Public Building

Fitzwilliam College Gatehouse and Auditorium, Cambridge University

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

This Best Public Building winner comprises two distinct buildings:

A rational, three-storey, brown brick gatehouse with residential accommodation above and 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, being a good advertisement for brick as a contemporary material of construction by architects who are known for their mastery of the material.