The Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre by Cox Rayner Architects has been named Building of the Year at the Australian Institute of Architects' 2010 North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards.
In awarding the prize, Queensland state awards director, Bud Brannigan said "This building not only provides a new 1,500 seat auditorium for Mackay, but also invests the city's cultural precinct with new momentum ... Externally, a series of continuous, closely spaced, 8m high hardwood columns to the street edge of the building provides both civic scale and contributes to the prevention of sun penetration".
Seventeen architectural projects were entered into this year's awards, ranging from Magnetic Island and Hamilton Island to Townsville and Ingham. Seven regional commendations were awarded, including a commendation for one of the last projects ever designed and constructed by the late architect, Harry Seidler.
The House of the Year Award was presented to Horseshoe Bay House on Magnetic Island by Troppo Architects. "Three separate pavilions, totalling 120 sqm, together with generous verandahs, combine to form a humble building which captures all of the qualities of its location on Magnetic Island," Brannigan said.
Commendations were also presented to Tyto Wetlands Cultural Centre at Ingham by Troppo Architects; Wave on Hamilton by Harry Seidler and Associates; Townsville North Railway Yards by Fairweather Proberts Architects; Blue Water Lagoon by Aecom and Lanai by BVN Architecture.
All commendation recipients are now in the running for Queensland Architecture Awards, to be announced in Brisbane on 19 June.
