Maggie's Gartnavel wins 2012 Doolan award

OMA accepts the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland prize

Maggie's Glasgow Gartnavel Centre was honoured last night as the 'Best Building in Scotland' by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. OMA accepted the award for their outstanding design.

The judges praised the Centre, describing it as, ‘an extraordinary building – a place of calm, simultaneously welcoming and open. Maggie’s Centres provide support for people with cancer, their families and friends. Exceptional architecture and innovative spaces make people feel better.

‘The spaces feel casual but allow for privacy. The approach is about modest external expression, embracing a courtyard garden to generate a unique place of gentle contemplation and an exemplary caring environment.’

Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee said: “It is an enormous pleasure to have won the Doolan Award for our Maggie’s Centre in Gartnavel and it is incredibly generous of OMA to donate their prize to us.

“Our Centre visitors regularly tell us how much they enjoy the building because it is welcoming, light and spacious.

“OMA has done an incredible job in creating a Centre that facilitates our programme of support as well as making our visitors feel welcome, safe and valued.

“At Maggie’s we place a great emphasis on the benefits of good architecture and design and Maggie’s Gartnavel with its interconnected rooms encourages our visitors to explore the building in a contrast to the narrow corridors and hallways of many hospitals.”

The Centre was selected from a shortlist of 14 designs. Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said, "The Maggie's Centre at Gartnavel is a building I know well. It is a tremendous resource for cancer patients and their families, a place of contemplation, support and healing."

OMA partner-in-charge Ellen van Loon commented: "I sincerely thank the RIAS for this significant recognition. I am happy to announce that the £25,000 prize has been donated to Maggie’s – a fantastic cause and a project which I thoroughly enjoyed working upon."

Maggie's Gartnavel was made possible through the support and funding of Walk the Walk. It has also been recognised by nominations for the Design Museum's Design of the Year award and the RIBA Stirling Prize.