We are delighted to announce that Mareel is one of only 25 projects selected from 75 entries to be shortlisted for the The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) 2013 Awards.
The list was announced on Sunday 24 March and the judging panel this year includes RIAS President Elect Iain Connelly FRIAS, Dr Joyce Deans CBE PPRIAS, Lori McElroy MBE, Kathy Li of the Mackintosh School of Architecture and Roger Stephenson OBE, representing the Royal Institute of British Architects. A panel including Iain Connelly will visit Mareel and the other shortlisted buildings before deciding which will receive awards.
Managed by Shetland Arts Development Agency, the leading arts agency in Shetland, Mareel is the UK's most northerly music, cinema and creative industries centre.
Shetland Arts’ Marketing Officer, Lisa Ward, said: “We are very proud to see Mareel recognised on this shortlist and look forward to the RIAS panel’s visit.”
Mareel. Photo by Phatsheep Photography.
The building, designed by Gareth Hoskins Architects, is situated in a prominent quayside area in Lerwick, adjacent to the Shetland Museum and Archives and incorporates: a live performance auditorium, two cinema screens, rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, education and training spaces, a digital media production suite, broadcast facilities and a cafe bar with free, high speed wi-fi internet access.Gareth Hoskins said “we’re thrilled that Mareel, having received so much positive feedback from its users, has now also been shortlisted for these prestigious awards and are delighted to have the opportunity to show the judges around.”
Providing a year round programme of film, live music, education and other performance events, Mareel is a hub and a focus for the creative communities not just in Shetland but beyond, and a catalyst for the creative industry sector in Shetland.
RIAS president Sholto Humphries said: “We had 75 submissions from throughout Scotland. This number of entries is a tremendous vote of confidence and confirms that this new award, in only its second year, is now the single most important recognition of architectural achievement.”
He added: “While we are considering an extraordinary range of projects of different scale and type... we will be rewarding those projects which we feel best address the key role of architecture, which is to improve people’s lives. We are not restricted in the number of awards we make, and looking at the quality of this list, the task ahead of us will be a tough one.”
Award winners will be announced at the RIAS dinner on 12th June.
Previously the RIAS co-ordinated RIBA Awards for Scotland. However last year the incorporation launched its own award scheme. Entries to these awards are also eligible for RIBA Awards for Scotland and RIBA Special Awards. Winners will also be eligible for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award and the RIBA Stirling Prize.
