St. Paul's Cathedral has been awarded the highest accolade at the 2009 RICS Awards, winning 'Project of the Year' for the Tercentenary Restoration carried out by Purcell Miller Tritton. The £40 million restoration, led by Senior Partner Martin Stancliffe, has extended to virtually every part of Wren's magnificent building.
The crypt was completely reorganised to provide a shop, refectory, cafe, WCs, conference facilities, choir practice rooms and new education facilities.
The most complex aspect of the project was the cleaning of the entire interior and exterior. New techniques were developed and an innovative hanging and rotating scaffold was designed to allow for works to the dome. Much of the stone was already blackened before the end of the Cathedral's 33-year construction in 1708, so the building can now be seen as Wren intended for the first time.
Simon Pott, Chairman of the Judging Panel, said, 'This is a remarkable project that has rejuvenated a truly timeless building for the local area and wider community. The care and attention taken in its restoration, in both its exterior and interior, has given it a completely new lease of life. A wonderful project.'
St. Paul's wasn't the only Purcell Miller Tritton project to receive an award: Wollaton Hall in Nottingham was also highly commended in the Building Conservation category.