OPUN for business
OPUN, the Leicester-based Architecture Centre for the East Midlands, welcomes the endorsement of its services in a recently published assessment of its sponsor organisation and funder, Design Council Cabe.
The Bishop Review, commissioned by Government earlier this year, undertook an independent analysis of Design Council Cabe’s role in light of its merger and the proposed changes to the planning system in England.
Led by Peter Bishop, visiting professor in Architecture and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University, the review concluded that affiliated design review services, such as those offered by OPUN, are vital in the changing landscape of design support.
Julie Tanner, Chief Executive of OPUN, welcomed the findings, saying: “The timely completion of the Bishop Review means that a strong case has been made in terms of how design should be built into the planning system. We’re delighted that our contribution as one of Design Council Cabe’s key partners has been recognised.
“OPUN’s Design Review Panel plays an important role in providing built environment expertise and advice to local authorities, developers and communities so that the buildings and places we create meet the social, environmental and economic aspirations of local people.
“More schemes continue to be put forward for Design Review in the East Midlands, which is evidence that our clients see it as a useful, independent tool. OPUN adds value by assisting with community engagement and speeding up the planning application process to ensure developments are designed to a quality standard and will meet the aspirations of people who will ultimately use them.”
This positive assessment of OPUN’s services comes not long after the organisation received confirmation that its bid to become a registered charity was successful. Achieving charitable status puts OPUN in a stronger position to extend its funding sources and make its money go further as an independent, not-for-profit body.
Julie added: “Achieving charitable status means we can attract financial support and sponsorship that we wouldn’t have been able to access under our previous business model. At a time of challenging public resources, this outcome – coupled with the positive findings of the Bishop Review – is a positive step in securing our future.”
OPUN is located at De Montfort University, and exists to improve the quality of building design across the East Midlands and create better, sustainable and prosperous places.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Design Council merged in April 2011 to become Design Council Cabe, due to budget cuts and a challenging economic climate in which many Government funded bodies now operate.
For more information, visit www.opun.org.uk or www.designcouncil.org.uk ; full details about the Bishop Review are available here .
ENDS
For more information on this press release, please contact Clare Farley at Eden PR on 0115 958 8850 or clare@edenpr.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
About OPUN
OPUN was set up in 2002 to create better quality neighbourhoods, buildings and public spaces across the East Midlands. OPUN is part of the Architecture Centre Network and is hosted by Leicester De Montfort University. As part of it’s Design Support Service, OPUN runs one of eight Design Review Panels affiliated to Design Council, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
It also works with built environment and regeneration professionals, officers and elected members of local authorities, via a design best practice training, networking, conference and arts development programme.
To find out more about OPUN, its staff and services, visit www.OPUN.org.uk ; follow us on Twitter @OPUNtweets ; find us on LinkedIn by searching on OPUN .
OPUN delighted with outcome of East Midlands RIBA Awards
OPUN – the Leicester based Architecture Centre for the East Midlands – is delighted with the outcome of the recent Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) East Midlands Awards held at the City’s Athena venue, where a local building won the OPUN sponsored Place Award.
The Hugh Aston Building at De Montfort University, which houses a new £25m faculty of Business and Law, was singled out for putting community engagement and natural surroundings at the heart of the design brief and development process.
As Julie Tanner, Chief Executive of OPUN explained: “The OPUN Place Award was new for the 2011 event, and I’m delighted that this particular building clinched the top accolade. It embodies the principles we strive for at OPUN, in terms of ensuring that well designed places and buildings are fit for purpose and meet the needs of our communities. I’d like to congratulate the winning team – and DMU and architects CPMG in particular – for their achievement.”
Hugh Avison from Nottingham based CPMG said: “It is really great news that the vision and execution of the Hugh Aston Building, with its startling contribution to the quality of the urban environment in this historic part of Leicester, was recognised so clearly.”
Julian Owen, Regional Chair of RIBA East Midlands added: “Yet again, the East Midlands and its architects have shown that design excellence is still very much to the fore in the region. The projects showcased are superb examples of what can be achieved when client and architect work in perfect harmony.”
The revitalised 16,000m2 Hugh Aston building and space surrounding it forms an important gateway to the campus, housing over two hundred offices, twenty six classrooms, ten lecture theatres and five IT suites.
ENDS
For more information on this press release, please contact Clare Farley at Eden PR on 0115 958 8850 or clare@edenpr.co.uk
About OPUN
OPUN was set up in 2002 to create better quality neighbourhoods, buildings and public spaces across the East Midlands. OPUN is part of the Architecture Centre Network and is hosted by Leicester De Montfort University. As part of it’s Design Support Service, OPUN runs one of eight Design Review Panels affiliated to Design Council, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
It also works with built environment and regeneration professionals, officers and elected members of local authorities, via a design best practice training, networking, conference and arts development programme.
To find out more about OPUN, its staff and services, visit www.opun.org.uk ; follow us on Twitter @opuntweets ; find us on LinkedIn by searching on OPUN .