Dundee Civic Trust Awards and Dundee Civic Trust / Dundee Historic Environment Trust Conservation Award for 2025
This year saw a long list of 13 entries for projects completed between 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2025, with a short list of five selected for a visit by the panel of judges chaired by Board member Professor Fionn Stevenson in August 2025. A follow up panel meeting resulted in four winners, who received their awards fromTrust Chairman Donald Gordon and DHET Chairman Gordon MacDougall at a ceremony held in the Dundee Art Society’s Roseangle Gallery on 16 October.
Dundee Civic Trust Award: Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc Hub
- Client/Developer – Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
- Architect – Holmes Miller
- Main Contractor – Robertson Construction Tayside
The judges were impressed by the exceptionally high quality design with clear planning and excellent daylighting levels throughout the MSIP Innovation Hub. They praised the highly innovative use of structural timber materials, including self-designed acoustic panels, showing a profound understanding of sustainability and environmental compatibility. Onsite wind turbines and a district heating network provide all the energy needed. Accessibility within the building was thought to be generally excellent, with generous circulation spaces and excellent wayfinding. The one disappointment was the lack of an access button to open the door at the entrance for wheelchair users – easily remedied.
Dundee Civic Trust Award: Derby Street Housing Development
- Client/Developer – Hillcrest Homes and Dundee City Council
- Architect – Collective Architecture
- Main Contractor – Robertson Group
Hillcrest and Dundee City Council’s excellent large scale housing design project at Derby Street has replaced the two multis, Bucklemaker Court and Butterburn Court, which dominated the area until their demolition in 2013. The development contributes hugely to regenerating the area of Coldside and the thoroughfare of Strathmartine Road. The judges felt this was a tour de force of housing that feels both humane and generous, with lots of interesting elevations and stepped facades. They also praised the exceptional urban planning, with the introduction of the old street as a quiet pedestrian promenade. It has overcome significant challenges with the steep topography to achieve full accessibility. The joint project was started in 2016 and has had to overcome many hurdles to reach completion.
Dundee Civic Trust / DHET Conservation Award: Walker the Luxury Jeweller, 34-36-38 Union Street
- Client – Walker Luxury Jeweller
- Architect – AIM Design
- Main Contractor – Bentleys Shopfitting Ltd.
The judges felt that the exquisite re-use by Walker the Luxury Jeweller of an empty shop unit in this Category B listed building has created a real jewel in the city centre. The revised design and fit out of the expanded shop is highly sympathetic to the existing tenement building. The attention to detail in endeavouring to restore the external proportions of the second shopfront by reinstating the height of blocked openings (despite significant challenges discovered mid-project) is inspiring. In achieving this, the stepped frontage to Union Street with separate shopfronts was also retained. The use of the building for a high end business and the significant investment in the building shows confidence in the city centre as a location for such businesses into the future and that has to be good for the sustainability of the historic environment.
Dundee Civic Trust Commendation: University of Dundee Life Sciences Innovation Hub, James Lindsay Place
- Client/Developer – University of Dundee
- Architect – Oberlanders
- Main Contractor – Robertson Construction Tayside
This is a substantial, well designed building. It is a key resource for the University in the Blackness area and offers a vital contribution to the city, Scotland and scientific development generally by providing a variety much needed laboratory spaces for start-up companies spinning out of the University. It also has numerous meeting rooms, write up spaces and a large atrium that could host different types of events. The judges acknowledged the high quality finishes, excellent detailing and specification to meet the demanding client brief. The laboratories have very good flexibility with excellent airtightness levels overall in the building. There is a nice public art feature at the entrance and the level of universal access is commendable.