Civic Trust Awards

The Civic Trust Awards were originally established in 1959 by Michael Middleton CBE[1] of the Civic Trust to recognise outstanding architecture, urban design, landscape and public are which improve the quality of life for local communities.

The Civic Trust went into administration in April 2009, following the loss of a government contract. The Civic Trust Awards was successfully rescued from the administration process by former Civic Trust employee Malcolm Hankey and his wife Karen Hankey who continue to run the scheme on a not-for-profit basis as a Community Interest Company.[2]

Awards are given for buildings and schemes which were architecturally outstanding and made positive differences to their local community. Wherever possible, at the first stage of assessment, entries to the Civic Trust Awards (and Pro-Tem Awards if the structure is still in place) will be visited by a team consisting of an architect and (where available) a universal design assessor, a community representative, a Local Authority planner and a Student Representative. This team reports its recommendations to the National Judging Panel (a group of experts in their respective fields) that make the final decisions on the level of award to be given.

The assessor team will be looking for schemes that use sustainable design and construction, have a positive impact on their local environment, and have well integrated and detailed access for all. Feedback is offered to all unsuccessful applicants and the decision made by the assessor team and National Panel is final.

For the Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award scheme, entries will be desk assessed by a group of specialist conservation representatives of the AABC.

Civic Trust Award plaque on the Severn Bridge.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme annually recognise projects with Special Awards, Awards and Highly Commended.

There are 3 entry categories - Civic Trust Awards, AABC Conservation Awards and ProTem Awards (for temporary buildings/structures). Projects can be entered separately into both the Civic Trust Awards and AABC Conservation Awards should all criteria requirements be met.

All schemes are considered on their own merits, with winning projects also considered for one of the Special Awards, such as Sustainability, Community Engagement etc.

The Civic Trust Awards also delivers an Awards scheme in recognition of architect and founding figure of universal design, Selwyn Goldsmith.

Established in 2011, the Selwyn Goldsmith Awards for Universal Design is delivered in parallel with the Civic Trust Awards application process, all CTA entries are automatically considered for the Selwyn Goldsmith Award. The winner will be selected by a specially convened panel of universal design experts with the announcement made at the Awards Ceremony in March each year. Universal Design is about ensuring that places work for all people, no matter your age, ethnicity, gender or ability. An environment or building that is responsive, flexible, welcoming, easy to use and occupy; allowing all to use with dignity and equality. The Selwyn Goldsmith Awards (SGA) seek to promote and applaud those schemes which achieve this and exceed regulation. To be considered for the SGA's your project should have gone beyond the building regulations, as a minimum using best practice guidance, putting people at the heart of the project and showing exemplar design.

Civic Trust Awards - Projects that make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment. Award level schemes demonstrate excellence in architecture or design, whilst being sustainable, accessible and provide a positive civic contribution.

Civic Trust Highly Commended - Projects that make a significant contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment. Commendation level schemes demonstrate a good standard of architecture or design, whilst being sustainable, accessible and provide a positive civic contribution.

For more information, please visit the Civic Trust Awards website www.civictrustawards.org.uk

• Hallgate, Blackheath Park, London, 1961
• Kingsgate Bridge, Durham, 1965
• Nottingham Playhouse, 1966
• Richmond Baths (now Pools on the Park), Richmond, London, 1967[3]
• West Burton Power Station, 1968
• Severn Bridge, 1968
• M6 motorway between Lancaster and Penrith, 1971[4]
• Renault Centre, Swindon,[5] 1983
• St James, Guernsey, 1986
• Victoria Quarter, Leeds,[6] 1991
• Centenary Building, University of Salford, 1997
• London IMAX, 2000
• Blizard Building, 2006
• Saint Malachy's Church, Belfast, 2010
• Green Park Business Park, Reading, 2014[7]
• Cambridge Central Mosque, 2020
• Windermere Jetty Museum, South Lakeland, 2020
• Battersea Arts Centre, Wandsworth, 2020 (AABC Conservation Award)
• The Heart in Ikast, Denmark, 2020
• For more winners

• Media related to Civic Trust Awards at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website