Two awards for Swindon architecture
Swindon's architecture was been recognised yet again when two contrasting buildings received Civic Trust Awards for 2001 on 9 August.

Swindon Council's lottery funded millennium project STEAM, the Museum of the Great Western Railway, has been recognised as an outstanding example of regenerating a building that was once at the hub of the town's famed railway works set up by Victorian engineer IK Brunel in the 19th Century. The heavy industry of the railway works has long gone, but the museum celebrates the products of Swindon people of the past, and the culture of the people themselves. STEAM also underscores the contribution of the railways to Britain's industrial growth, and also the success of the Swindon itself in the 20th and 21st Centuries.

At the other end of the scale of sensibilities, the £7 million hi-tech glass and steel headquarters of Cellular Operations, the second largest independent service provider of cellular products and services for the UK's biggest mobile networks, was also recognised by the Civic Trust.

Already the winner of several awards for architecture and innovative working environment, the Cellular Operations building was identified as one of the fifty best buildings in Britain by The Independent newspaper which described it as 'the most extraordinary call-centre ever built' and 'high performance and wit combined in a wonderfully shimmering big idea.' (Go to www.independent.co.uk/50_best). The building was also featured in a 12 August Channel 5 programme on 'Buildings of the Future.'

Chairman of Cellular Operations Ric Lee expressed delight at receiving another award. "It's always very satisfying to hear nice things said about a project that I personally have had a lot to do with. The call centre industry hasn't always had the best press. In the past people have called them 'sweat shops.' When we were designing the building I wanted to produce an office that was not only architecturally unique and had loads of character but one that was fun to work in. I think our building proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that not all call centres are 'sweat-shops.'"

Members of the public can have a free guided tour of Cellular Operations on 8 and 9 September when it takes part in National Heritage Open Days, also organised by The Civic Trust. Half hour tours will take place between 10.30am and 5pm on both days. To book a place, call Rachael Newman at Cellular Operations on 01793 546176 or e-mail: rnewman@cellops.com

Since 1995, two other former GWR engineering buildings in Swindon have been regenerated and have received Civic Trust Awards - the National Monuments Record Centre (1995) and the Great Western Designer Outlet Village (1999).