Three Purcell projects claim RIBA National prizes

Auckland Castle, a collaboration with Niall McLaughlin Architects, was the only project in the North East region to win a National Award, after triumphing at the Regional Awards and being named North East Building of the Year.

The project also picked up the Conservation Award, with judges praising our ‘painstaking conservation work’, commenting ‘Purcell deserves praise for its seemingly effortless incorporation of a fully accessible visitor route – not to be underestimated in a listed building with a warren of internal levels at play. Building services including heating and ventilation have been entirely renewed and existing fabric upgraded sensitively’.

Purcell have been working on the project as Lead Consultant, Architect and Heritage Consultants since 2012. With Niall McLaughlin, we have transformed the 900-year-old, Grade I-listed castle into a ‘three-in-one centre for arts, culture, and heritage’, featuring ‘welcome new additions’ from the Niall McLaughlin team. 

In London, our transformation of the National Portrait Gallery with Jamie Fobert Architects – the largest renovation to have taken place at the gallery since it opened in 1896 – was commended for its enhanced visitor experience and revitalised historic spaces. Speaking upon its opening earlier this year, Purcell Chairman Liz Smith remarked ‘Never has there been a holistic transformation, and this project gave the opportunity to do that’. 

The restoration of Battersea Power Station, on which we worked as Conservation Architect alongside WilkinsonEyre, is the third Purcell project on the list, having won the RIBA London Conservation Award. The project was praised for balancing ‘heritage preservation with fabric efficiency’.