Margate's Turner Contemporary given building award

The Turner Contemporary could now be shortlisted for the best building of the year award

The Turner Contemporary art gallery in Kent has won an award for its architectural excellence.

It was given a 2012 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award along with the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey.

The gallery, on Margate seafront, was also picked as the winner of the Regional Building of the year.

The Turner Contemporary was designed by David Chipperfield architects and cost £13.65m. It opened in April 2011.

<bold>'Fortress-like'</bold>

RIBA described the gallery as "deceptively simple" and "a curator's dream".

It added: "The understated but carefully articulated white panelled exterior is unapologetically fortress-like and protective of the jewels within."

Victoria Pomery, Turner Contemporary director, said: 'This award signifies a huge vote of confidence in our wonderful new gallery building."

The McLaren Production Centre was designed by Foster & Partners and was completed in May 2011 at a cost of £35m.

RIBA said: "The 300,000 cubic metre 'box' nestles successfully in the surrounding landscape."

The two buildings are among <link> <caption>58 in the UK and Europe which have received the awards</caption> <url href="http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAAwards/RIBAAwards.aspx" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

They will now get a chance to be shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year.