THE best buildings in town have been singled out for praise.
The Wrexham Area Civic Society celebrated high standards in planning and architecture during its annual awards evening at Gresford Memorial Hall with guest of honour Cllr Michael Morris, chairman of Wrexham Council planning committee, presenting the awards.
Categories included new buildings, restoration and refurbishment of existing buildings, landscape improvements and sustainability.
The event was introduced by Nick Roe, chairman of the civic society, who said: “The society also occasionally awards a ‘wooden spoon’ to highlight development which it considers to be detrimental to the image of the borough, but this was not awarded this year.”
The winner in the new build category was Glyndwr University for its Centre for the Child, which Mr Roe described as “very much liked” due to its “simple solution of contrasting curved and rectangular forms and varied surface treatment”.
He added: “It is encouraging to see that the university is taking modern architecture seriously.”
The Maypole Dairy, Cefn Mawr was rewarded in the restoration and refurbishment category.
Mr Roe said: “It is considered that great care has been taken to use the right materials and colours and the building has regained its rightful place in the street scene.”
The Meadow Barns, Llay was also singled out in the same category as an example of a building “rescued from dereliction and lovingly refurbished for domestic use”.
Mr Roe added: “The craftsmanship and loving care involved in this project was applauded.”
Wrexham Council’s museum extension, the Citizens Advice Bureau on Grosvenor Road, Rhos Library’s sculpture and Glyndwr’s Centre for Creative Industries Building were also commended.