Power Court plans win prize at global architecture awards
The Hatters’ plans for a new stadium at Power Court and mixed-use development at Newlands Park were hailed at a global architectural awards ceremony on Wednesday night in the south of France.
Manuel Nogueira, from AndArchitects, led a 2020 Developments contingent including chief executive Gary Sweet and development director Michael Moran at MIPIM 2017, where 2020 Developments’ plans for a new home for the football club in the heart of Luton town centre won an award in the Sports & Stadiums category of The Architectural Review Future Projects Awards.
The plans for the 17,500-23,000 capacity stadium beat a strong field of competitors with the new Perth Stadium in Western Australia and Power Court shortlisted – the Hatters ultimately coming out on top at the event in Cannes.
In addition to that great success, the plans for Newlands Park received a commendation in the Regeneration & Masterplanning category, in which the winner was a Swedish development.
The organisers describe how the awards “recognise and celebrate the role of architecture in the creation of successful development, which includes the contribution made to the public realm as well as the quality of proposed buildings”, and that “sensitivity to existing contexts is a feature of the better entries”.
Other winners among the 220-plus entries from almost 30 countries came from Oman, California, Malaysia and London, with only one development winning awards in two categories and the overall winner coming from New York.
How great to see Luton’s name up in lights alongside such a world powerhouse as the Big Apple. Accolades like this will certainly enhance the image of the town to the wider world, so imagine what impact the projects will have if they are actually built!
A huge well done from everyone at Kenilworth Road to all who have put so much hard work and vision into the two projects so far.