St Andrews Links Trust’s new £2 million office and warehouse, the Morris Building, has been awarded the Dundee Institute of Architects (DIA) Best Public/Commercial Building Project Award for 2013.
The Morris Building, which was officially opened in July, beat stiff competition from projects completed across Dundee, Angus, Perth and North East Fife at the DIA annual awards at the Invercarse Hotel in Dundee.
The newest addition to the Links landscape, which reflects the great legacy and importance of the Morris name in St Andrews’ history through to the present day, boasts state-of-the-art office and storage facilities and is a key component of the Links’ commercial and retail operation.
It will help to provide a more efficient streamlined service to the five stores operated in St Andrews.
It is also home to open-plan offices, meeting rooms and a showroom for the first Tom Morris lifestyle clothing collection, which is now available in the flagship store on the Links.
On the first floor, the Morris Suite is used for conferencing, training, learning and development.
The judging panel praised the design of the building, not least for the innovation at its heart with cutting-edge technology used in its heating and cooling systems as well as a range of organic materials in its construction, including a sedum roof, which is comprised of organic materials from indigenous herbs and bushes, aided by rainwater harvesting techniques.
St Andrews Links Trust chief executive Euan Loudon said: “Naturally I am delighted that Dundee Institute of Architects has awarded the Morris Building winner of their Best Public/Commercial Building Project Award for 2013.
“We are immensely proud of what Tom Morris achieved and acutely aware of what his legacy means to St Andrews.”
The Morris Building cost more than £2 million and signalled a significant investment in the Links and surrounding areas, with contracts awarded to construction firm Robertson and Archial.
The completion of the Morris Building has also aided the creation of several new retail jobs as part of the Links’ continued commitment to investing in staff.