The University of Kent’s Templeman Library was ‘Highly Commended’ at last night’s Concrete Society Awards for the use of concrete in its new extension. Collecting the award were John Sotillo, Director of Information Services, John Morley and Mark Ashmore from the University’s Estates Department, Suzi Winstanley and Mara Monteiro (Penoyre & Prasad – project architects) and Helen Page (Structural Engineer, Price and Myers).

Suzi explains: “Our design exploits the aesthetic and formal properties of concrete to knit together the new extension with the existing brutalist building to create a vibrant, contemporary building at the heart of the University of Kent campus.”

Judges take into account such factors as visual impression and integration with the surrounding landscape, functional suitability, concrete properties exploited in the design, innovation in concrete composition, structure or form, execution and finish, sustainability credentials client satisfaction, and value for money.

Picture by Jim Higham. Cropped from original.