An architecture student in Aberdeen has landed the top prize for a project which challenged entrants to re-imagine the city’s Gray’s School of Art as a new exhibition and conference centre for Robert Gordon University.
Calum Dalgetty, 21, came up with an imaginative redesign which combined space for exhibitions, offices, catering facilities and residential accommodation – as well as headquarters for the Centre for Northern Culture and Design and the RGU Foundation.
His design came out on top among his fellow stage three students and landed him the Rob Hunter Prize from RGU’s Scott Sutherland School for Architecture and Built Environment.
Mr Dalgetty said he was thrilled with his success.
“I must admit I didn’t expect to win the prize as the level of work across the year was so high, but it is really good to get recognition for my work from outwith the university,” he said.
“Working with an existing building is always difficult, but what made this project really enjoyable was the fact that it was so realistic.
“It really made me appreciate Gray’s as before I had a tendency to walk past it and rarely take a second look.”
The prize has run for 20 years in memory of an architect who taught at the Scott Sutherland School.
Mr Dalgetty and others who took part in the prize competition – now in its 20th year – will now present their work to a prestigious panel of architects visiting Aberdeen for the Big Crit event next week.
It will also be displayed to a wider audience in the Scott Sutherland School on Garthdee Road during the students’ end of year show, which runs from Friday, June 19, until Wednesday, June 24.