(L-R) George Clarke – TV Presenter, Paul Reid – Black Cultural Archives, Malcolm McGregor – Pringle Richards Sharratt, Graham Clarkson – Clarkson Alliance

We are proud to announce the new heritage centre for Black Cultural Archives (BCA), project managed by Clarkson Alliance and designed by Pringle Richards Sharratt architects has received two Civic Trust Awards and has also been shortlisted for a RIBA award.

The Civic Trust Awards began in 1959 and are awarded to projects demonstrating excellence in planning, architecture, design, landscape and public art.  Particular recognition is given to those of a high standard in sustainability and those projects providing beneficial impact to the community either culturally, economically or socially.

Since opening in July 2014, the new heritage centre in Brixton has played host to a number of exhibitions and events encapsulating black history in the UK as well as exhibiting works from museums like the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A.

The BCA team and collection had been dispersed across different sites around London for a number of years prior to the move.  The £6.9million project in a Grade II listed building has united them in Windrush Square, a significant landmark.  The Square is named after the S.S. Windrush ship which carried a mass population of black immigrants into the UK in 1948.

The aim of the project has been to preserve the artefacts, ephemera and collections that chart black settlement in the UK and allow these stories to be told for future generations.

The project was recognised with a Civic Trust award last week and a second special award for Community Impact and Engagement.

Closely following the Civic Trust Award success is the announcement that the project is also shortlisted for a 2015 RIBA award.

“We are thrilled to be part of the fantastic journey this project has been on – taking a derelict building and giving it a new lease of life as an outstanding heritage centre.  What was vital to us was that the outcomes that Black Cultural Archives wanted to achieve 7 years ago were reflected in the final building you can visit today.  The new centre enables Black Cultural Archives to present the important stories of their lineage in new and exciting ways.”  – Graham Clarkson, Managing Director of Clarkson Alliance.

As well as providing project management and supporting Black Cultural Archives with a successful Stage 2 HLF application, CA developed a sustainable business plan in collaboration with the charity.