New Award to Celebrate Sustainable Built Environment Projects in Scotland

Built environment projects that demonstrate excellence in continued and adaptive reuse will be celebrated by a new Sustainability Award for the Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards 2021.

The My Place Sustainability Award will honour community-led building, public realm and landscape projects that were completed in Scotland between 2001 and 2011. Projects completed within this timeframe that demonstrate continued fitness for purpose, as well as having a robust approach to climate readiness, are invited to apply.

The My Place Sustainability Award aligns with the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021’s (COP26) campaign for adaptation and resilience. Winners of the new Sustainability category and general My Place Awards 2021 will be honoured in Glasgow in November during the week of COP26.

“The continued use and adaptation of existing buildings is a key way that the heritage sector can address the Climate Crisis. The adaptive reuse of buildings safeguards our cultural and built heritage for our children, provides local training and employment opportunities and develops community capacity and resilience to respond to our changing climate.

The new My Place Sustainability Award supports and recognises how people can come together to preserve cherished places, fulfill community needs and tackle climate change.”

Local groups responsible for the continued or adaptive reuse of buildings and sites can enter the My Place Sustainability Award at bit.ly/MPAwardsEntry. Entries can also be submitted for the general My Place Awards, which celebrate community-led built environment projects completed in Scotland between 2018 and 2020. Entries for both the new Sustainability category and general My Place Awards close on 29th August 2021.

Members of the public are encouraged to suggest possible entries for the general My Place Awards and the new Sustainability category by filling out a short form at bit.ly/MPA2021suggestions, emailing sct@scottishcivictrust.org.uk, or tagging @scotcivictrust on social media. The My Place Awards team will follow up with suggested projects about submitting an entry to the Awards.

Entries to the Awards can be submitted at: bit.ly/MPAwardsEntry

Members of the public can suggest possible entries to the Awards at: information on the My Place Awards can be found at: bit.ly/AboutMPA

For interviews and photos please contact: My Place Awards celebrate community-led built environment projects that have transformed their locality and are coordinated by the Scottish Civic Trust.

Winners of the My Place Awards benefit from the opportunity to develop a national profile. Winners are honoured at a reception and all entries are displayed in a public exhibition. The 2020 reception was held online, reaching an audience of 26,000 people. The awards are supported by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Civic Trust’s mission is to celebrate Scotland’s built environment, take action for its improvement and empower its communities. The vision which drives this is thriving, beautiful and well cared for buildings and places, which help to support and sustain a high quality of life.

Founded in 1967, the Scottish Civic Trust exists to help people connect with their built heritage and take a leading role in guiding its development. In its infancy, it successfully campaigned for the restoration of Edinburgh’s New Town and was instrumental in the revitalisation of New Lanark – both now part of Scotland’s network of six World Heritage Sites.

In addition to these major milestones, the Scottish Civic Trust initiated Doors Open Days, now the largest free festival of architecture in the U.K. Doors Open Days celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019.