THE Stockton Heath designers who created an £18m children’s centre have won a national award.

C4 Projects, which is based in Wilderspool Park, designed and project managed the Caudwell International Children’s Centre at Keele University Science and Innovation Park in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

The centre, which has now won a Project of the Year and National Design Through Innovation award, was the UK’s first independent and purpose-built centre dedicated to multi-disciplinary services for the diagnosis, support and research of Autism.

Speaking after winning the awards from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), James Pass, director of the company, said: “C4 were appointed as architect, project manager, and cost consultant and so to have the centre recognised as the national Project of the Year 2019 and win the national Design Through Innovation award by a highly respected body such as the RICS is an incredible achievement for all involved.

“Through innovative design and pushing the boundaries of what truly accessible design means, we have succeeded in creating a building which is significantly improving the lives of those who use it.

“We are both humbled and very proud to have been involved in this project which has acted as a benchmark for future centres around the world.”

The landmark building offers inclusive design and sensory features to reduce anxiety flares for the building’s clients, helping to improve the lives of thousands of children and their families in the UK.

RICS judges commended the project team, Caudwell Children, C4 Projects, KGA and Buckingham Group, for their effective collaboration and co-ordinated approach to deliver a building of distinction which also exceeded UK accessibility standards.