[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/designawards.jpg” caption=”Faculty of Health Sciences representatives receiving the architectural awards from the City of Hamilton included Susan Denburg, associate vice-president, academic; Dorothy Fitzgerald, director of the Health Sciences Library; John Kelton, dean and vice-president; and David Price, chair of the Department of Family Medicine. Photo courtesy of FHS.”]Two major renovations of McMaster facilities have won architectural awards of excellence from the City of Hamilton.

At a reception last night, awards were presented for the newly renovated Health Sciences Library on campus and for the Stonechurch Family Health Centre on Upper Ottawa Street.

The Health Sciences Library won an Award of Excellence, Architecture. The library underwent $8.6 million in renovations last year, including the creation of the two-storey, glass front Jan and Mien Heersink Reading Pavilion on the northwest corner of the Health Sciences Centre.

The jury noted the relatively small addition of the reading pavilion has a positive impact on the image of the library, the Health Sciences Centre and the campus as a whole.

“It acts like a front porch for the medical centre, creating a new relationship between the interior and exterior, using the reading room and new landscaped area together to create a comfortable and welcoming entrance plaza,” the jury's report said.

Dorothy Fitzgerald, director of the library, said the renovation has transformed the library.

“Not only does the reading pavilion add more space, it gives a spectacular view of campus. We have so much natural light now, which gives a wonderful environment for both collaboration and quiet study.”

The Stonechurch Family Health Centre won an Award of Excellence, Adaptive Reuse. The community health clinic of the Department of Family Medicine was created from a former insurance company vehicle inspection and claims centre in a suburban strip mall development.

The jury pointed out the landscaping, natural light and features such as a fireplace in the waiting room creates “a peaceful and welcoming environment that provides a sense of wellness.”

“It provides an example of how to humanize the typically banal and sterile environment that is found in many automobile-oriented commercial developments,” the report said.

The City of Hamilton Urban Design and Architectural Awards are presented to recognize and celebrate work that demonstrates excellence in the design of the urban environment, as well as the design professionals and companies that create it.

The McMaster projects were among eight projects chosen for awards from 30 nominations as they demonstrated excellence in architecture, heritage restoration, sustainable design, site planning, landscape architecture and urban design.