Milton Keynes Gallery Wins Architectural Award |
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Milton Keynes Gallery wins LABC 2008 Central Region Award: Best Structural Innovation On Friday 20 June 2008, Milton Keynes Gallery’s MK Forty Tower won the 2008 LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Central Region Built in Quality Award for Best Structural Innovation. This Award recognises either an individual or an organisation that has a new way of complying with Building Regulations with a new design or technological innovation. The Tower was also a finalist in the category for Best Public/Community Project. The Award ceremony was held at Jury’s Inn, Milton Keynes. The project will now go forward to be judged at the National LABC Awards in October this year.     MK Forty Tower has become a familiar sight on Margaret Powell Square beside the Gallery in the Theatre District, Milton Keynes. Constructed in 2007, Milton Keynes Gallery commissioned award-winning architects dRMM to make a temporary public artwork in celebration of Milton Keynes’ 40th anniversary year. It is still attracting great attention. Last summer, almost 5,500 visitors climbed the 101 steps to the upper viewing platform to see the views of the cityscape and surrounding countryside. The Tower is now closed to visitors, but the Gallery is in discussions with The Parks Trust about moving the artwork to another Milton Keynes location. This extraordinary Tower was designed to contrast with the mostly horizontal architecture in Milton Keynes. Built by KLH Ltd and engineered by Price and Myers, the Tower’s fabrication and installation is now assessed by its architects dRMM to be Carbon Neutral. Michael Stanley, Director of Milton Keynes Gallery, said of the Award: “It is fantastic news for the gallery and Milton Keynes to be recognised and profiled through this prestigious Award. I am especially grateful to our Tower supporters and sponsors dRMM architects, KLH, Price and Myers, Milton Keynes Partnership, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and David Lock Associates and thank them for all their support.” |