Hawkins\Brown were selected as the winning team to design a new student support centre and civic square for the University of Central Lancashire.

Hawkins\Brown design concept features a biodiverse roof, LED lighting underfoot, a pavilion café bar and a large glass façade to create feelings of light, space and airiness. It has been created using the idea of ‘threads’ to connect the University and the city, drawing on Preston’s textile heritage and its future in aerospace electronics.

The shortlisted teams were:

• Associated Architects
• Austin Smith: Lord LLP
• Feilden Clegg Bradley
• Hawkins\Brown
• Nicholas Hare Architects
• Sheppard Robson
• Stanton Williams

“This is a landmark project which will enhance Preston’s landscape, and all the shortlisted architects provided a skilled and unique response. We’d like to thank everyone who submitted feedback as the comments helped shape the judging panel’s final decision, and it was Hawkins\Brown’s winning design which drew the most positive attention. The public particularly liked the curved glass façade and the idea of the pavilion café bar, supporting the use of the square for all.”

UCLan Vice Chancellor, Professor Mike Thomas