Built Environment

Studio Three Architects took first prize in the 'under £1m category' of the Built Environment Award 2010 for the Food Hub Design Cube at St Anselm's College.

This Liverpool-based architectural practice is responsible for the striking Food Hub Design Cube, a newly completed, sustainable and self-contained food technology block to support Key Stage Three learning at the Birkenhead college. Sustainability was embedded throughout the design rather than adding on expensive technologies for visual effect.

Special features:

• - Design features to optimise sunlight capture, to provide natural lighting for the cooking spaces and avoid overheating.
• - Construction largely from lightweight blockwork and prefabricated materials, with minimal use of steel.
• - Outer skin is a highly insulated, energy efficient brick box.
• - Window positioning optimised to provide natural stack ventilation and minimised mechanical extraction.
• - South-facing teaching spaces sized and orientated to allow for passive ventilation.
• - Green roof planted with a diversity of local species, with BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and capacity to fit solar hot water panels.
• - Planting space around the block where pupils can grow food to use in cooking, with zero food miles.

What the judges said:

• "This small building has provided, in its simple and striking architecture, on a small and previously under-utilised site, a valuable addition to the school campus and its curriculum, providing theory and practical food cooking spaces to support the introduction of food technology."
• "Built to a tight budget: a deceptively simple plan, resolved into an exciting form."

www.studio-three.co.uk / www.st-anselms.com

Runner-Up

This year the judges did not award a runner up prize in this category.