Divinity School wins Cambridge Design Award

The architects Annand and Mustoe have won the Cambridge Design and Construction Award for conservation of an existing building, for their work on restoring the Divinity School at St John's College.

The award was organised by Cambridge News in conjunction with Cambridge City Council and Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry. Nearly thirty buildings were shortlisted, with winners in each category being presented with a scroll and a plaque by local councillor Tim Ward. The plaque is to be displayed in the Divinity School.

Susan Smith, senior conservation and design officer for the City Council, said: "The Cambridge Design and Construction Awards celebrate the more recent, high-quality developments that have been built in the city."

The Divinity School was originally built for the University on land owned by St John's in 1878 by the architect and author Basil Champneys, who also designed Newnham College and Manchester's John Rylands Library. The School served as the location for the Faculty of Divinity until the year 2000, when the Faculty moved to its current home on the Sidgwick Site. After this, ownership of the building went to the College.

The restoration process took over three years of planning, archaeological excavation and refurbishment work led in large part by members of the College's Maintenance Department. With a large central hall, several teaching rooms fitted with state of the art equipment, and a 180-seat theatre, the Divinity School provides a venue for lectures, conferences, teaching, external events and school visits designed to inspire the next generation of St John's students.

Michael Vanioli, lead architect on the project, said: "I am very pleased that the Divinity School won the Cambridge Design and Construction Award. Congratulations to everyone who was involved in the restoration. This project was a true team effort."