Neil Quinn wins prestigious Duke of Gloucester Award for Architecture

Posted on 13th December 2011

BSK-CiC is delighted to announce that young designer, Neil Quinn, has won the prestigious Duke of Gloucester Award for Architecture for his design work in its Build4 Sustainable Construction Demo Centre.

BSK is one of the UK partners in the Interreg funded CAP’EM project which assesses and showcases eco-materials for construction. BSK is a Community Interest Company and it takes this status very seriously, looking for ways to work creatively whilst adding value by including people from its community of interest.

(From left to right: HRH the Duke of Gloucester; Neil Quinn, BSK-CiC; Thomas Hillman, Taylor Wimpey; Brendan Cusick, Sir Robert McAlpine; Chloe Agg WSP CEL; Christine Townley, Construction Youth Trust)

In the summer of 2010, BSK decided to offer the opportunity to design the CAP’EM demonstration centre to a student looking to build a portfolio. Along came Neil Quinn, a recent graduate of Central St Martins in London. Neil embodied all the energy, creativity and ideas that BSK was looking for and they snapped him up.

‘Neil possesses an intangible quality of wonder at and respect for the world around him mixed with a determination to succeed. We knew he was exactly right for our role’ said Alisa Yingling, CAP’EM project manager.

Over the ensuing months, Neil worked tirelessly to bring his visions for Build4 to life. Most designers of Neil’s age work for years before they see a physical manifestation of their designs…which explains Neil’s joy when he saw his first designs made real.

The Build4 Sustainable Construction Demo Centre was launched on the 24 March 2011 to much acclaim. BSK was delighted to have supported Neil in these early stages of his career and thought that he was the perfect candidate for the Duke of Gloucester Young Achiever Scheme (DOGYAS).

Organised by the charity Construction Youth Trust with the support of the Trust’s Patron, HRH the Duke of Gloucester, DOGYAS aims to identify and celebrate the success of exceptional young professionals working in the built environment. It is hoped that the awards will promote the professions to young people of all social backgrounds and, as a result, increase the number and diversity of entrants into the construction sector.

Senior figures in the construction sector judged the applications and Neil was one of 2 shortlisted for the Architecture award. On Thursday the 24 November, he attended the awards ceremony at Banqueting House, Whitehall where he was awarded the top honour for the Architecture category.

When asked about his reaction to winning, Neil said, ‘Being selected by BSK CiC to design my first real project, the CAP’EM Build4 Demo Centre and seeing my ideas brought from paper to physical manifestation was a thrilling experience in itself. Then to be nominated for DOGYAS; invited to the Banqueting House in Whitehall; and to go on to win the Duke of Gloucester Architecture Award was an unforgettable feeling. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be mentored by the ACA, one I can use as a springboard for the wonderful things to come in my career.’

Neil will receive a year of mentoring from a senior figure in the industry.