More Gongs for Inverness Theatre

Having been open for just over a year, the redeveloped Eden Court Theatre in Inverness has this weekend secured two coveted prizes at the Glasgow Institute of Architects Awards 2008 and also received a commendation at the 2008 Inverness Architecture Association awards.

At the Glasgow Institute of Architects Design Awards, Eden Court came out on top in the Best Leisure + Retail building category, where the Highlands were also represented on the shortlist by The Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre.

The Page / Park designed building also scooped the special GIA Sustainability Award. The Sustainability Award is an open award across all the categories and is awarded to buildings which pay particular attention to environmental and sustainability issues.

At almost the same time in Inverness, building designers Page / Park received a commendation in the Category for the Best New Building in the Highlands and Islands and were praised for their redevelopment of the Eden Court Theatre as part of the Inverness Architecture Association Awards, which were held at Eden Court on Friday evening.

Eden Court’s successful weekend comes on the back of the recent win at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Scotland (RICS) Awards 2008, where the theatre scooped the award for Best Community Benefit building in Scotland. Eden Court was also shortlisted in the same category at the RICS UK Grand Final in October and was one of eleven buildings shortlisted for the UK’s richest architectural prizes, the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland award.

Theatre Director Colin Marr said “I am delighted that we’ve been successful in the Glasgow Institute of Architects Awards - It is a fantastic tribute to the work of Page / Park, to the project team and to the staff, that the building has again been acknowledged as one of the best of its kind anywhere in the UK. We are also delighted that the building has been recognised at a local level too, by professionals who watched the redevelopment eagerly throughout the project.” 

Jim Tough Scottish Arts Council Chief Executive said:

‘Winning the special Sustainability Award and the Best Leisure and Retail building awards at the Glasgow Institute of Architects Design Awards is yet another fine accolade for Page/Park’s winning Eden Court Theatre design.

The Scottish Arts Council would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Page/Park architects and reaffirm our commitment to investing in the best buildings, offering increased sustainability, access and learning opportunities while attaining the highest standards of design.

The benefits of high quality building design are not just aesthetic, good design can improve an audience’s experience and stimulate a wider appetite for the arts and this in turn can increase participation in the arts, one of the Scottish Arts Council’s key aims.’

Media Contact for Eden Court Theatre: Laurie Piper
tel: 01463 732673
email: lpiper@eden-court.co.uk

Notes to editors

1. Lottery funding of £2,305,000 was invested in the refurbishment of Eden Court Theatre.
2. The Scottish Arts Council is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was established by Royal Charter in 1994 and is also a Lottery distributor. The organisation serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60m each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding.
3. In 2008/09 Eden Court Theatre received £505, 000 in Foundation funding from the Scottish Arts Council

Contact email(s)

media.office@scottisharts.org.uk

Issued by: Scottish Arts Council