The Brain Mind and Research Institute (BMRI) in Sydney has won international praise at the Design & Health International Academy Awards in Boston, USA.

The project in Camperdown won a Highly Commended International Health Design Award.

Images: The Youth Mental Health Building at the Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) (Photography: John Gollings)

The Design & Health International Academy Awards is a world-leading advocacy programme that recognises professional excellence in the research and practice of designing healthy built environments.

This is the third time this project has been recognised internationally.

In November last year the BMRI won the Health Category award at the World Architecture Festival (WAF), giving it the title of ‘Best Health Building in the World’.

In May it was included on the list of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Award winners, making it eligible for the RIBA Lubetkin prize that will be presented in London on the 1 October 2011.

In Australia it has just won the major architecture award in NSW, the Sir John Sulman medal making it eligible for the Zelman Cowen Award that is announced at the end of October by the Australian Institute of Architects.

James Grose, BVN National Director said: “this building was designed to take into account many diverse requirements and constraints, it had to provide a human scaled and tactile environment for mental health patients on one hand and address an inner-city streetscape on the other.”

The BMRI is part of the Faculty of Medicine of The University of Sydney focused on research into mental health and clinical issues relating to the brain. The Youth Mental Health Building consists of two floors of consulting and patient interaction and two floors of research laboratories.

The challenge was fitting this new facility into a group of existing buildings - the result is a design that is integrated into the streetscape with a translucent glass box sitting on top of an existing facade making a rich and interesting contribution to the neighbourhood.

Grose commended his clients, particularly Prof Ian Hickie and Prof Max Bennett for their support through the creative and design process of this now world acclaimed project.

“It is a tremendous confidence booster for Australian architects, to have an Australian design being recognised at the highest levels internationally,” he said.