RIBA Building of the Year: Nottingham Trent site named

The Lyth Building holds teaching and research facilities and is aligned to make best use of the sun

A university building has been named winner of a prestigious award by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Nottingham Trent University's (NTU) Lyth Building, at its Brackenhurst Campus, was named 2022 East Midlands Building of the Year.

The awards jury described the Lyth as sitting "elegantly" amid other listed buildings and designed landscapes.

The university said it was a remarkable achievement.

Derwent Valley Villa is a family home at the centre of a historic Derbyshire village

While the Lyth Building was the winner, other buildings also won RIBA East Midlands Regional Awards and some special awards.

These included:

• Ada Belfield Centre and Belper Library, Derbyshire: A combined care home and public library, reusing parts of the old Thornton's factory.

• Derwent Valley Villa, Duffield, Derbyshire: A new-build private house.

• Ravine House, Chesterfield, Derbyshire: A large scale renovation of a 1967 private house.

• The Parchment Works, Gretton, Northamptonshire: Private house extension built within ruined scheduled monument.

The Parchment Works sit in the back garden of a Victorian townhouse

All award winners will now be considered for a RIBA national award, due to be announced in June.

The Lyth Building was designed by Evans Vettori Architects.

A spokesperson said: "NTU have consistently supported our vision for a sensitive environmental project.

"It was a pleasure and a privilege to make this contemporary addition to the fabulous historic landscape around Brackenhurst Hall.

"To finally see students returning, post-Covid, and enjoying learning in the new building has been a joy for everyone involved."

The campus is home to the university's School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences.

The Lyth Building is part of a major investment plan to improve the facilities, teaching and research for staff, students and visiting members of the public.

Steve Denton, NTU's chief operating officer and registrar, said: "The Lyth is a stunning and prominent building which has further transformed our Brackenhurst Campus into a vibrant and cohesive environment for students to learn and be inspired by.

"Winning East Midlands Building of the Year is a remarkable achievement and we're very proud of everyone involved in the project who have helped us deliver this award-winning building."

Ravine House is a renovated 1960s home

The awards jury said of the project: "The Lyth sits elegantly [in] its context of listed buildings and designed landscapes, while giving a centre and focus to the burgeoning campus of NTU.

"It has raised the bar for future development."

RIBA President, Simon Allford said: "Winning a regional building of the year award is a major achievement.

"Across the country projects have been selected for this accolade because they are exemplars of the very best of innovative, intelligent and delightful design.

"My warmest congratulations to all those involved."