Gallery extension at Attenborough Arts Centre in the running for national award

The new gallery at our Attenborough Arts Centre, opened in January by Sir David Attenborough, is in the running for Best Inclusive Building at the national Local Authority Building Control Awards 2016 Grand Finals, alongside projects that include the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

The LABC, a not-for-profit membership organisation that represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales, presents regional awards every year, with winners from each region progressing to the LABC Awards Grand Finals in London.

At an awards ceremony in June the project to extend the Attenborough Arts Centre to include a gallery suite and sculpture garden won the East Midlands Local Authority Building Control Excellence Award for the Best Inclusive Building. It joins the Olympic Stadium, renovated since its use during the 2012 Summer Olympics, among the shortlist for the Grand Final in this category, the winner of which will be announced on 28 November.

When receiving the East Midlands LABC award Michaela Butter MBE, Director of the University of Leicester’s Attenborough Arts Centre, said: “We are delighted that the our new gallery is receiving so much recognition and the LABC award highlights not only a great new building, along with an inspirational visual arts programme, but a cultural hub for art lovers and families to meet, learn and enjoy together.”

The University of Leicester’s new gallery space at Attenborough Arts Centre was opened by Sir David Attenborough in January and makes the Centre one of the largest contemporary art spaces in the East Midlands. The project was funded by the generous support of donors, including Arts Council England.