Social Infrastructure Project of the Year
The Word has been named Social Infrastructure Project of the Year at the prestigious British Construction Industry Awards 2017. The national award recognizes a project which is improving society by providing better social infrastructure.
Since opening in 2016, The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, has captured the imagination of all age groups including teenagers, a demographic not usually associated with the library building typology. The combination of 21st century library, digital media centre, community hub and national cultural institution, has created a diverse and inclusive space which is delivering significant social and cultural benefits to the coastal town of South Shields.
In its opening year, new library memberships have increased by 176% compared to the same period in the previous year. New memberships among people aged 65+ have risen by a staggering 533% and junior memberships are up by 162%. Borrowing has also increased with 44,000 more books issued with a rise among teenagers of 220%.
As well as recognising the building’s social impact the judges also praised our rigor in ensuring that “quality detailing” was retained “through the value engineering process”.
Steve McIntyre, Partner at FaulknerBrowns, said: “It has been incredible to witness first-hand the positive effect this building is having on the people that visit it, and the community it serves. We have been fortunate to work with a client in South Tyneside Council that has continued to invest in, and promote, good design with the development of The Word.”
