The King Richard III Visitor Centre has won a place on the shortlist of a prestigious architectural awards scheme.
The centre, on St. Martins Road, Leicester, has been selected for the ProCon Leicestershire 2014 Awards in the ‘large non-residential scheme of the year’ category.
Susan Lamb, 44, who is the centre’s reception assistant, said: “This nomination is a lovely reward for all of the hard work that has been put in not just since the centre opened but in the process of designing the centre, also.”
The new visitor centre has already welcomed more than 15,000 visitors since opening to the public in July, creating plenty of publicity for the city of Leicester.
Mrs Lamb, of Rothley in Leicestershire, continued: “We would be delighted to win the award but just being nominated is reward enough for us, we just hope people continue to visit and admire the visitor centre here in Leicester.”
Commissioned by the city council, designed by Maber Architects and constructed by Morgan Sindall plc, the former grammar school has been fully renovated to include the exact scene of the grave where the King’s remains were discovered.
Locally-sourced materials have been used throughout the scheme, creating a high quality environment for visitors and an appropriate setting for the story of the last Plantagenet
Leicester’s City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This is a stunning building, which well deserves its place on this prestigious shortlist.”
The Leicestershire ProCon Awards take place each year to recognise architectural excellence within Leicester and Leicestershire.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the King Power stadium on November 13.
Sam Smith
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