Further recognition for Circus Street and Valley Gardens projects at awards

Circus Street developer U+I, along with the project’s architects shedkm, won the Best Architectural Design award at the South East Construction Awards 2022 this week. This is the fifth major award for the development.

The award recognises projects which have been designed in sympathy with their local environment, are innovative, fit for purpose and have achieved practical completion during the previous year.

Transforming the former market site

The 2.4-acre Circus Street site was formerly home to the municipal fruit and vegetable market. It has been transformed into a residential and commercial ‘innovation quarter’ by a Public Private Partnership between the council, U+I and the University of Brighton, creating 142 new homes, 450 student bedrooms and 3,000 square feet of flexible office accommodation.

“Superb design”

Council Leader Phélim Mac Cafferty said, “It is wonderful to see the awards coming in thick and fast for Circus Street, which is a beautifully designed and exciting new area of the city, thanks to the superb design and creative thinking of the architects and the project team, led by U+I.”

Valley Gardens

Meanwhile at the national Architects’ Journal Architecture Awards 2022 last week the Valley Gardens scheme was highly commended in the Landscape and Public Realm category, finishing as runners up for the award.

The judges praised the project for having “delivered a massive amount on a small budget”.

“Exceptional value to the city”

The Valley Gardens scheme has transformed the area between St Peter’s Church and the Old Steine, introducing a new events space, wildflower meadows and trees. It has also increased footpaths and cycling space to help improve accessibility.

 “The overall impact and scale of this project is huge” one judge said. “It’s a project of exceptional value to the user and to the city.”