2009 Best Education Building

Guildford Education Campus, Surrey

Architect: DSDHA
Brickwork contractor: Irvine Whitlock Ltd
Brick: Ibstock: Cottbus Special Format

The campus comprises two buildings.  The same brick is used on both buildings but the difference in treatment gives each building its own identity.  The smooth fourth face of Pond Meadows contracts with the deeply recessed openings of Christ's College.  Both buildings are carefully detailed and skilfully built.  The judges were struck by the way the architects have exploited the visual quality of the semi-glazed brick.  Deep maroon, they appear almost silver when reflecting light.  This category contained a number of excellent buildings, De Grey Court at St John's University York and the Gillespie Centre, Clare College, Cambridge were close contenders.